The corps quickly became one of the top competitive corps in the country. Former Cadets described him as a charismatic leader, while former office workers said he was a volatile, often verbally abusive boss. Mostly cloudy and drier, but a few scattered rain showers linger early, and perhaps a few snow showers at any point in the Poconos. ALLENTOWN, Pa. | The defense attorney for the former drum corps director accused of sexual assault is demanding that a newspaper turn over its unedited video interview of his clients accuser in order to prepare a proper defense. The charges stemmed from alleged incidents involving two women. Consent matters.. The Cadets Drum Corps -The Three Peat | by George Hopkins | Medium Currently semi retired, while creating Act 2 of life. This is the performing arts, you dont need to be like this.. Charles Mura, Michael Koeph, and the Rev. Former Allentown Cadets director George Hopkins has settled a civil claim with the Cadets parent organization, Youth Education in the Arts, regarding compensation. But even after he was let go, Connell said he was still allowed around corps members who knew what had happened and had reported him to the administration because he was the organizations connection to the housing site where they were staying. CEO while denying the allegations. In both cases, the women say after meeting with Hopkins on business, they were drugged and sexually assaulted. New statement from Youth in Education in the Arts on Allentown Cadets Success! Anthony warned Hopkins that if he violated any conditions of probation he could be sent to a state prison. Assistant District Attorney Matthew Falk declined to comment afterward on whether the two sides were discussing a plea deal. Nine women from Allentowns elite Cadets drum corps accuse director George Hopkins of sexual abuse and harassment, he sued the organization for more than $580,000. He resigned from his post in early April amid sexual assault allegations, but the YEA board said it was firing Hopkins. One in four trooper positions are vacant. Drum and bugle corps perform intricate routines that incorporate music, marching, dance and color guards. The. 1, 2 & 4 / Grover's Corner (from Our Town) & Appalachian Spring, Symphony No. Get local Breaking News alerts sent directly to your inbox. Beyer, who said Hopkins assaulted her after she went to work for the corps, watched his plea and sentencing Thursday, but did not speak in court. Hopkins needs Help From George Hopkins . Hopkins had worked for The Cadets since 1979 and became director in 1982, coaching the team to 10 world titles. In 2022, The Cadets entered into a partnership with the Erie Sports Center as the new spring training site for the corps' May-June rehearsals. They sleep on hard gym floors, take water breaks on the run and get an average of one. You have permission to edit this article. An online community dedicated to the marching arts, with a focus on drum corps. and USBands, but I can no longer be treated as dispensable. But, as Connell says, the problem is much deeper than a couple of creeps. The Cadets won additional DCI championships in 2005 and 2011, the corps' ninth and tenth in forty seasons.[3]. Midway through the 1959 season, the parish allowed the corps to once more wear the uniform that remains their trademark. At 192 beats per minute.. Hopkins was hired by The Cadets in 1979 and became director in 1982, coaching the team to 10 world titles. Crews were actively searching for people who were trapped, but having a hard time getting to them. Based in Erie, Pennsylvania, The Cadets was one of the thirteen founding corps of Drum Corps International (DCI), is a ten-time DCI World Champion, and is the oldest continuously active junior drum and bugle corps in North America.[1]. [2][3], In 1958, the Holy Name parish declined to support the corps' travel and disbanded the corps. As a member of MAASINs whistleblowing committee, Calhoun helped compile six reports and publicized them in January. The members and staff, however, were not willing to cease the corps operations, and reorganized as a new organization, even though the parish kept the uniforms and instruments. Nickelodeons Kids Choice Awards: What Is Slime, and Why Do We Love It? Defense in sex assault case wants newspaper to hand over accuser's video interview, George Hopkins' defense attorney wants access to the Philadelphia Inquirer's unedited video, Stormcenter - School / Business Application. Despite pressure on show sponsors, judges, and other drum corps, the corps were booked into a number of shows together. that title. George has 7 jobs listed on their profile. He began as Director in 1983 Through his attorney, Hopkins said he did not know who Marie is, but denied her allegation. There was a problem saving your notification. On the social media site Medium.com former Allentown Cadets director George Hopkins writes: , Sexual assault charges have been filed against the former director of the famed Allentown Ca. separated from YEA and became the nonprofit Cadets Arts & Entertainment Inc. Hopkins called the allegations an orchestrated smear, Report: Drum corps leader threw things at work, called women little girls, California residents do not sell my data request. Please know, you lose many, many GREAT people because of the reasons I listed and more. First, I want to thank you for the opportunity you have afforded me in this role. They reportedly tried to convince the VFW officials that the peace symbol in their drill was actually the Mercedes-Benz logo. won with field programs that were, and still are, viewed as ground-breaking. George Hopkins - Founder - 11 Rings | LinkedIn "' The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps . Consent matters.. George Hopkins Resigns As Director Of Cadets Following Sexual Assault The Casper Troopers perform during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field Friday evening. George Hopkins on The Cadets 2017 Show | Marching Arts Education Lehigh County Judge James T. Anthony also fined Hopkins $5,000, the most allowed by law, and called him flatly disgusting.. Hopkins did not testify Thursday. After the hearing, Hopkins lawyer, Thomas Bergstrom, called the probationary sentence a fair result and said there were many inconsistencies in the accusers stories. He followed that with eight additional DCI World Championships, most [10] On September 22, 2020, Hopkins pleaded no contest to indecent assault and was sentenced to two years probation[14] and fined $5,000. There are so many other things that Ive witnessed as a marching member, but theyre not my stories to tell, Connell said. You need complete concentration on everything you do because if you dont, you could get someone else hurt or you can hurt yourself, Calhoun said. The DCI.org interview: George Hopkins It took a summer without performances, said Connell, for people to step back and realize that what they thought was tough love was actually systemic negligence. Mostly cloudy and drier, but a few scattered rain showers linger early, and perhaps a few snow showers at any point in the Poconos. Ex-Allentown Cadets director George Hopkins charged with sexual assault Hopkins, George | WDCHOF Genesis from Austin, Texas performs during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field Friday evening, July 12, 2019. The Cadets - Hopkins needs Help From George Hopkins A | Facebook Allentown's Cadets drum and bugle corps forming non-profit, separating from YEA! George Hopkins, the former director of the Allentown Cadets drum and bugle corps who was accused of sexual misconduct by a dozen women, pleaded no contest on Thursday to indecent assault and was sentenced to two years of probation. The judge set a Dec. 17 hearing on the defenses motion to dismiss the charges. George Hopkins, the former director of the Allentown Cadets and CEO of Youth Education in the Arts who separated from the organization after being accused of sexually harassing nine women, is suing YEA for more than $580,000 in severance pay. These PEOPLE are your most important asset. George Hopkins, exiting court in Allentown in December 2018, pleaded no contest Thursday to indecent assault. How to do some spring cleaning on your smartphone, What the Tech? After a great experience his first year, Calhoun said he was looking forward to coming back in 2017, even as some changes in his personal life took a toll on his mental health. "He's like, 'Are you all right?' But instead, he encountered a disorganized administrative team that seemed to be improvising on the job. Chief Deputy District Attorney Matthew Falk said the woman in the 2008 allegation decided that not pursuing these charges are in her best interest, and we support her in that.. Shortly after, more victims came forward, and the accounts of two of these women became the basis of the criminal charges brought in November 2018. On Friday, October 6, 2017, 10:08 PM, XXXX XXXX XXXX@XXXX.com wrote: This letter is to inform you of my resignation as Director of USBands, effective immediately. On Wednesday, he told Lehigh County Judge James Anthony that the Inquirer has refused to provide the full video. [15], In response to Hopkins suing YEA! Shes four years removed from the corps now, and married. Marching as the Cadets of Garfield; wearing uniforms of white shorts, red golf shirts, and "Aussie" hats; and using instruments borrowed from the Chicago Cavaliers, the corps managed to finish in second place (one spot ahead of the defending champion Cavaliers). The City of Erie welcomed The Cadets with open arms, offering access to local business relationships, services, volunteers, and new opportunities for funding and partnerships. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. But if that is the consensus of the alumni maybe WE should ensure that there will be a future for the CADET organization! Former drum corps leader pleads no contest to indecent assault; judge In addition to The Cadets, YEA! Read more JESSICA GRIFFIN / Staff Photographer established a hotline for calls to report concerns or complaints.[11]. I just felt like, Well, youre right. Hopkins, 63, was accused of sexual assault and harassment by numerous women in a 2018 Philadelphia Inquirer article, and was criminally charged in connection with two alleged incidents later that year. Thank you again for the opportunity and best of luck. how enemies came to be friends. George Hopkins, who led The Cadets to renown and a slew of national and world championships, stepped down from the Allentown-based group after Philly.com reported Thursday that nine women had accused him of sexual harassment or abuse. Philly.com reported the alleged misconduct ranged from lewd comments and groping to rape. That might be because people are running their faucets to keep pipes from freezing. "I just kept saying no, don't do this, I don't want to do this," said Marie, who said she went by her middle name at work. Defense in sex assault case wants newspaper to hand over accuser's Bergstrom said the Inquirer interviewed Jessica Beyer in April 2018 and publicly aired the four to five-minute video. The Casper Troopers perform during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field Friday evening, July 12, 2019. The woman told police that when she stood up to leave the bar, she felt like she was moving in Jell-O.. Bergstrom reiterated his position that he cant effectively prepare a defense without access to the full interview. Hopkins is out on $50,000 bail. Ryan Macpherson, who hails from Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minnesota, will start his work as dean of the college on Aug. 1. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. The Allentown Cadets drum and bugle corps lost sponsors, donors and engagements because of sexual misconduct allegations against its then-director George Hopkins. The reasons why may be about more than money. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). And those folks do it without flinching. The women who accused Hopkins of harassment ranged in age from 16 to 37 at the time of the alleged incidents, which dated to 1980. The charges are second-degree felonies. This amount of the lawsuit included recovery for lost sponsorships and pledged donations to The Cadets and YEA!, a major loss of participants in the US Bands program, as well as legal fees incurred due to the scandal. Defense attorney Thomas Bergstrom had previously filed a motion asking that The Philadelphia Inquirer provide the full and unedited video interview with one of Hopkins accusers that it had produced and published online. You need to make sure that you are taking care of them. During training, 150 members aged 14 to 22 rehearse for 12 hours a day, on their feet from morning to night. In response to a question from Anthony, Berry said the paper would hand over the full video recording for the judges review only, if that was the courts ruling. [2][3], The Garfield Cadets relocated outside Garfield to Hackensack and became the Cadets of Bergen County in 1989. for more than $650,000 in severance and back pay, the organization filed a counter-suit against the former director for $1.5 million in losses which it alleges to have lost due to the sexual misconduct scandal. These sort of militaristic rituals, paired with constant reminders about how grateful members should be for their spot on the corps, foster a culture of negligence that came to light last month when several former members went public with allegations, leading to the resignation of former corps director Kristy Jackson. DCI.org: For the uninitiated, give us a brief history of YEA!'s relationship with the Crossmen. . Copyright 2023 by The Associated Press. Former Cadet Lee Ann Riley said she was 17 when Hopkins, then 23, forced himself on her and had sex with her. Former Allentown Cadets director George Hopkins has settled a civil claim with the Cadets parent organization, Youth Education in the Arts, regarding compensation. George Hopkins pleaded no contest in Lehigh. Falk said the women were in agreement with the plea deal. Im angry. Brisk with west to northwest winds around 10-20mph gusting to 30mph.. Mostly cloudy with less wind and a few breaks in the clouds overnight. The corps felt that not only were they having their creative potential as artistic performing groups stifled, but they were being financially starved. There was a problem saving your notification. Cadets official statement. George Hopkins has resigned. Taught numerous bands. Youth Education in the Arts governs the Allentown Cadets drum corps. YEA! Calhoun said, careful not to sound arrogant, that he was a solid corps member. We could soon find out, A windy, cloudy Saturday for the Lehigh Valley, but the sun will come out tomorrow, Six years after hazing death, Penn State plans to drop the Greek life oversight it championed. The lyrics are taught to new members each summer and sung to the tune of "O Tannenbaum". In her last season, she remembers a staffer being forced to resign after he was found to be sleeping with a member.