George Hopkins. Names and emails redacted to protect the innocent. In the suit, Hopkins denied he was fired by YEA, claiming he left the organization through a mutually agreeable cessation of employment.. Newspapers publish newsworthy items all the time, and they cant be dragged into court every single time a defense attorney wants to know what other information is out there, Berry said. Hopkins was also charged with sexually assaulting another woman in Allentown; that charge was dropped as part of an agreement that led to Thursdays plea. Tips to help protect your smartphone from thieves, Outlast Forces Lone Wolf Contestants to Embrace Team Dynamics for Netflix Competition, Diego Luna: Andor Ending With Season 2 Is Really Important for My Mental Health. The group said it was taking steps to address the issues raised by past members, and has subsequently hired a new interim director. Updated Nov 13, 2018. Im still standing and using my voice to say what you did was wrong, she said. George Hopkins, exiting court in Allentown in December 2018, pleaded no contest Thursday to indecent assault. Calhoun said, careful not to sound arrogant, that he was a solid corps member. As presented, the Cadets did turn to Black renditions of the Cadets uniforms at the end of 2015. Former Cadets described him as a charismatic leader, while former office. George Hopkins, the former director of the Allentown Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps who was accused of sexual misconduct by nearly a dozen women, pleaded no contest to indecent assault and was. George Hopkins, who also ran the youth arts education nonprofit that operates the Cadets program, pleaded no contest to the charges in 2020 and is now serving two years of probation. The judge did question how the defense would know if the witness impeached her own testimony on the stand, if it didnt know ahead of time what she may have said in an earlier interview. Please subscribe to keep reading. One former Youth Education in the Arts employee who spoke to Philly.com on condition that she was identified only by her first name, Marie, said Hopkins routinely harassed and assaulted her at work. The women are among roughly a dozen connected to the Cadets organization who say they were sexually assaulted by Hopkins dating back to the 1980s. Hopkins was forced out as director of the . This has directed more than enough negative attention to the Cadets when in reality, it should be pointed at George Hopkins himself. At 192 beats per minute.. View George Hopkins' profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. The charge to which Hopkins pleaded no contest stemmed from one victim who said she was sexually assaulted in 2010 at age 26, and who provided her account to The Inquirer in 2018. But no one is irreplaceable. 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. Casper nonprofits can now apply for 1-cent funding through the city's official application process. 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. "[12] As a part of the terms of probation, the corps' reassessed their planned travel to the West Coast to open the season, and instead decided to proceed with a schedule redrawn for East Coast shows. On April 5, 2018, allegations were made in published reports that the longstanding corps director, George Hopkins, sexually harassed or abused multiple members of the corps and staff over a period of years. In 198385, the Garfield Cadets became the first DCI corps to earn a three-peatthree consecutive DCI titles. Their biggest resource in that effort may be the very people who are speaking out. This is the resignation letter from the director of USBands (a YEA program that helps fund The Cadets) and reveals some interesting information. I dont know a single person who marched drum corps and didnt have complaints.. Falk said the victims were in agreement with the plea negotiation. George Hopkins, former director of Allentown's elite Cadets drum and bugle corps, pleaded no contest to indecent assault after an Inquirer investigation revealed years of misconduct. Former Allentown Cadets director George Hopkins has settled a civil claim with the Cadets parent organization, Youth Education in the Arts, regarding compensation. There was upset from some people, as you can see, and others saw the progression as an effort to maintain the Cadets as an organization steeped in tradition but also very, very progressive when it came to new ideas, new concepts, and fresh presentations. [2][3][4], In 1972, the Garfield Cadets, along with the nine other corps from the Alliance and the Midwest Combine, plus the Anaheim Kingsmen, Argonne Rebels, and De La Salle Oaklands were founding members of Drum Corps International, which remains as the sanctioning body for junior corps in North America. Falk said the women were in agreement with the plea deal. "For 86 years, The Cadets have been leaders and innovators in performing arts education," Bonfiglio said. The reasons why may be about more than money. How to do some spring cleaning on your smartphone, What the Tech? A six-month investigation into Allentown's Youth Education in the Arts is now complete. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. wondering if he would be able to field and/or finance a corps, and ended 1983 They became the 507 Hornets -- I marched there from 1971-1974. Youth Education in. That might be because people are running their faucets to keep pipes from freezing. Bergstrom said the Inquirer interviewed Jessica Beyer in April 2018 and publicly aired the four to five-minute video. In her 2018 account to The Inquirer, that woman, Jessica Beyer, said she had marched with the Cadets and was hired to work for the group the following year at age 22. One possible side effect of the frigid temps? 1 / Adagio for Strings / Medea's Dance of Vengeance, The Promise of Living (from The Tender Land) / Lincoln Portrait / Music for the Theater, Mvts. You have permission to edit this article. For the 1971 season, the corps stuck together, offering show promoters the five corps as a package. [17], The Cadets was formerly part of Youth Education in the Arts (YEA! agreed to take over the assets and liabilities of the Crossmen in 1997. The rehearsal and performance grind wore him down, and he got little help from Jackson a former nurse aside from recommendations to drink coconut water and sit out a few reps. Two former Youth Education in the Arts employees accused George Hopkins of sexual assault. Ex-Allentown Cadets director George Hopkins waives hearing on sexual For members of the Casper-based Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps, summer is hardly a vacation. As promised, here is Part 1, of an eight part interview/discussion with the designers and teachers of the Cadets 1983-84-85, the holders of the first Drum Corps International three-peat, and . Not just for [the victim] but for all the women who are taken advantage of by predators like you, Anthony said. Read more Kyle Monroe by Tricia L. Nadolny [7] Later that day, Hopkins stepped down as director of The Cadets and YEA! In a no-contest plea, a defendant does not admit guilt, but concedes that prosecutors have sufficient evidence to secure a conviction. They wanted to shed a light on his behavior and for him to have a criminal record, he said. . In 1940, the Cadets won the American Legion Junior National Championship in Boston, the first of a record nine Legion titles the corps would win between 1940 and 1964. As temperatures have plunged this winter, water use has risen. If his probation officer recommends it, Hopkins will have to undergo sex offender therapy. The defense maintains that the video is very different than what Beyer later told investigators and that the entire video is necessary to mount a proper defense. which will ALWAYS take priority over my work. She said she told Hopkins no but was unable to fight off his sexual advances. On Wednesday, he told Lehigh County Judge James Anthony that the Inquirer has refused to provide the full video. separated from YEA and became the nonprofit Cadets Arts and Entertainment Inc. Hopkins called the allegations an orchestrated smear, As Adderall shortage continues, DEA plans to limit some telemedicine prescriptions, House where JonBenet Ramsey was found dead listed for sale for almost $7M, Columbia University permanently drops SAT, ACT admissions requirement, The Waterbed Doctor: California retailer lays claim to retro bed with nearly 40 years of service, sales, Felonious Florida podcast: Missing teenage girl leads to several cases of child sex trafficking, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. George Hopkins has been charged in Lehigh County with two counts of sexual assault. The woman told police that when she stood up to leave the bar, she felt like she was moving in Jello.. The woman addressed Anthony in court, telling him of years of fear, shame, and depression as a result of the crime, which she did not immediately report. "' The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps . The corps quickly became one of the top competitive corps in the country. The charges are second-degree felonies. Most of the time, the individual is NOT an assistant but someone who would like to assist. Watch this report from Action News at 4:30pm on April 6, 2018. Berry cited precedent in which a federal court found that the defense had not exhausted all other avenues for getting information before a media outlet was forced to hand over an interview. "I felt pressured and I felt cornered. George Hopkins, the former CEO of the Allentown-based Youth Education in the Arts, faces three felony counts of sexual assault for allegedly assaulting two former employees. Steven Chirichella Richie has his gold uniform on him in his eternity as he lies in the heavens dont turn him blackplease oh Holy Name. His credentials, his experience, his talents, his imagination, and his intellect are formidable. ", She said she didn't file a rape report or inform the board of directors because Hopkins seemed "untouchable.". The corps traveled to Chicago for Legion Nationals at the members' own expense. The parent organization of the Allentown Cadets drum and bugle corps has settled part of a lawsuit by its former CEO George Hopkins over his salary and benefits after he was fired in the wake. Wyoming teachers are leaving. But this isnt the military. The prosecution on Wednesday did not take a position on the defenses request. to recruit potential members is a Cadet legend. It wasnt rape and it wasnt sexual assault, Bergstrom said. They dont eat lunch until their section is perfectly lined up by twos. 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. Bergstrom reiterated his position that he cant effectively prepare a defense without access to the full interview. [2][3], In 1958, the Holy Name parish declined to support the corps' travel and disbanded the corps. In my opinion, its impossible to march drum corps and not be broken in some way when you come out, because its a very rigorous physical and mental activity, said Calhoun, a former baritone. and USBands, but I can no longer be treated as dispensable. 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. She said she told Hopkins no but was unable to fight off his sexual advances. YEA! Four months after the director of Allentown's famed Cadets drum corps, George Hopkins, resigned amid a sexual misconduct scandal, the spotlight has now turned on another, smaller corps Pioneer of Milwaukee. This is the performing arts, you dont need to be like this.. On April 5, 2018, allegations were made in published reports that the longstanding corps director, George Hopkins, sexually harassed or abused multiple members of the corps and staff over a period of years. Defense in sex assault case wants newspaper to hand over accuser's Prosecutor Matthew Falk, the offices chef deputy district attorney, said Beyer, the woman in the allegation dating to 2008, decided that not pursuing these charges are in her best interest, and we support her in that. The victim in the 2010 assault has asked not to be named. Never marched in high school band. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 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. Allentown's Cadets drum and bugle corps forming non-profit, separating from YEA! Former drum corps leader pleads no contest to indecent assault; judge Its credits include the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, President Barack Obama's first inaugural parade, a reality TV show and "Late Night with David Letterman.". Former Cadet Lee Ann Riley said she was 17 when Hopkins, then 23, forced himself on her and had sex with her. But, as Connell says, the problem is much deeper than a couple of creeps. (A similar group of Midwestern corps, the Midwest Combine, was formed by the Blue Stars, Cavaliers, Madison Scouts, Santa Clara Vanguard, and the Troopers.) Im angry. The corps felt that not only were they having their creative potential as artistic performing groups stifled, but they were being financially starved. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. After roughly a month of trying to leave, Calhoun said he finally did it in July, cutting his touring season short. It is clear that this is not something you are okay with. he sued the organization for more than $580,000 in severance pay. She told police that she passed out in his apartment and when she woke up, Hopkins was gone. In her last season, she remembers a staffer being forced to resign after he was found to be sleeping with a member. He followed that with eight additional DCI World Championships, most New statement from Youth in Education in the Arts on Allentown Cadets A statement issued late Thursday night by the YEA board of directors, the organization that operates The Cadets, an elite drum and bugle corps, said CEO George Hopkins denies the allegations but . 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. What is clear ---I need an assistant. DCI.org: For the uninitiated, give us a brief history of YEA!'s relationship with the Crossmen. George Hopkins, the former CEO of the Allentown-based Youth Education in the Arts, faces three felony counts of sexual assault for allegedly assaulting two former employees. participation in 2018 Summer Tour", "Cadets to forgo west coast portion of 2018 tour", "Ex-director of Allentown drum corps enters plea in sexual assault case", "Former Allentown Cadets band leader pleads no contest to indecent assault; judge calls him 'disgusting', "Drum corps seeks $1.5 million from former director after sexual misconduct scandal", "George Hopkins, YEA settle civil suit regarding compensation", "The Cadets Announce Independent Not-For-Profit Youth Organization", https://cadets.org/cadets-announce-move-erie-pa, https://www.erienewsnow.com/story/48381432/erie-sports-center-to-become-permanent-home-for-the-cadets-drum-corps, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Cadets_Drum_and_Bugle_Corps&oldid=1139537566, The Sinfonians by Clifton Williams / Give it One by, Advance of the Sponges by HIGGINS / Left Bank Express by Pete Jackson / Pieces of Dreams by Michel Legrand, Alan Bergman & Marilyn Bergman / Echano by Chuck Mangione / Strawberry Soup by, Rocky Point Holiday by Ron Nelson / In Nomine Patris, Almighty Father, Sanctus, Agnus Dei, God Said, De Profundis, Part 2 & A Simple Song, Maria, Rumble, Prologue, America, I Have a Love, & Tonight, Jeremiah Symphony, Overture to Candide & Make Our Garden Grow (from Candide), I Dreamed A Dream, At the End of the Day, Look Down, On My Own, Attack on Rue Plumet, Bring Him Home, One Day More & At the Barricades, In the Spring, When Kings Go Off to War; Ballet Sacra & On a Hymnsong of Philip Bliss, Dance at the Gym, Mambo, Cha-cha, Cool, Prologue/Rumble, A Boy Like That, Tonight & Finale, The Reivers, Born on the 4th of July, Blowing Off Steam (from Far and Away), Swing, Swing, Swing (from 1941) & Land Race (from Far and Away), The Promise of Living (from Tender Land) by Aaron Copland / Tulsa: A Portrait in Oil by, Tapestry Of Nations, Prologue, Chaos and Meaning, The Sage of Time & The Promise, History Repeating by Alex Gifford / White Rabbit by, Rumble, Prologue, A Boy Like That-I Have A Love, Cool & Tonight, Symphony No. 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.. Shes four years removed from the corps now, and married. Through his attorney, Hopkins denied "any nonconsensual relations" with the sisters and also denied having "any relations whatsoever" with Lee Ann Riley while she was a minor. 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There are so many other things that Ive witnessed as a marching member, but theyre not my stories to tell, Connell said. George Hopkins Bio And I never said no. Follow More from Medium Mark. Rachael Ray Ending After 17 Seasons: Its Time for Me to Move On, Shania Twain 'uncontrollably fragile' after husband's affair, 48 Hours: Natalie Morales Reveals How Social Media Helped Solve Case, Uriah Heep believe they have 'some merit' to be considered for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame entry, Amanda Seyfried wants to a role in movie version of Mean Girls: The Musical, Aaron Taylor-Johnson joins Nosferatu remake. 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. [22][23], At the annual World Championship Finals, Drum Corps International (DCI) presents awards to the corps with the high average scores from prelims, semifinals, and finals in five captions. She said he showed up at her apartment one morning, begged her for sex, then pushed her on the bed and raped her.