george hopkins cadets

Nickelodeons Kids Choice Awards: What Is Slime, and Why Do We Love It? Hopkins, the longtime director of the famed drum corps, resigned in April after nine women whose stories spanned four decades told the Inquirer and Daily News he had sexually harassed or abused them. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. 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. I want the victims to know that what you did was horrible beyond description, the judge said. [8] On April 11, the Board of Directors tendered its resignation and a new Board and officers immediately took over operations of the organization. The Scouts, however, have not competed on the field since 2015, making The Cadets the oldest continuously active junior corps. Former Allentown Cadets director George Hopkins has settled a civil claim with the Cadets parent organization, Youth Education in the Arts, regarding compensation. Morning call file photo/Special to The Morning Call, Former Allentown Cadets band leader pleads no, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Former Allentown Cadets band leader pleads no contest to indecent assault; judge calls him disgusting, Trump supporters who drove Hummer with guns and ammo to Philadelphia vote-counting site spared more jail time, Paul Muschick: Would money motivate Pennsylvania businesses to move to a four-day work week? How to do some spring cleaning on your smartphone, What the Tech? Stuart Evan Rice said in an interview this week that he told Dan Acheson . With no 2020 drum corps season, Cadets Arts & Entertainment focused its attention on establishing clear policies, strict safeguards and strategic committees that meet regularly to help guide The Cadets forward. Man missing since 2021 was murdered, co-worker arrested: DA, Brian Laundrie was 'emotional bully,' Petito family lawsuit says, Pa. woman missing since 1992 found alive in Puerto Rico. 253 votes, 88 comments. [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. Nickelodeons Kids Choice Awards: What Is Slime, and Why Do We Love It? The corps traveled to Chicago for Legion Nationals at the members' own expense. 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. George Hopkins, longtime director of the Cadets drum corps, resigns after sexual misconduct allegations April 6, 2018, 7:20 AM The decorated director of The Cadets drum and bugle corps. It wasnt rape, and it wasnt sexual assault, Bergstrom said. Calhoun ended up pulling a hamstring, but wasnt sent to a clinic for treatment. 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. creates new code of conduct after sexual harassment allegations, Fired! ", She said she didn't file a rape report or inform the board of directors because Hopkins seemed "untouchable.". She told police that she passed out in his apartment and when she woke up, Hopkins was gone. 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 sentenced to two years probation in Lehigh County Court on Thursday. In 2003, Yea! It said it was reaching out to Youth Education in the Arts, and also planned an internal review to see whether any current members of the DCI staff knew about the allegations and failed to report them. This is the resignation letter from the director of USBands (a YEA program that helps fund The Cadets) and reveals some interesting information. [20] A new Board of Directors was established, led by former CEO and Cadets Director Denise Bonfiglio. With director gone, Troopers now face deep-seated culture of negligence. She said that one evening in 2008, Hopkins asked her to come to his Allentown apartment to do some work. And those folks do it without flinching. Names and emails redacted to protect the innocent. 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. Ex-Allentown Cadets director George Hopkins charged with sexual assault Success! What is clear ---I need an assistant. Did march in the band at West Chester University in Pennsylvania for one year. 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. 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. George has 7 jobs listed on their profile. Hopkins, 63, is awaiting trial on three counts of felony sexual assault. 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 . Drum Corps International, the sanctioning body for competition youth drum corps events, said in a statement that it was "deeply concerned" by the allegations against Hopkins. George Hopkins - Medium [13] The corps' compliance with the terms of probation was sufficient for DCI to allow the corps to compete in 2018, and the probation was lifted in May 2019. 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. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Nebraska cheerleader competes by herself at state competition, but crowd doesn't let her feel alone, Crews contend with tons of snow as they work to reopen I-80, Powell sisters die in crash with semi-truck, Long shifts, odd calls, brutal weather: inside the Wyoming Highway Patrol staffing shortage, Ex-Casper doctor imprisoned for sexually assaulting patients released years early, Lovell steps up after local sportswriter dies from car crash injuries. Success! These PEOPLE are your most important asset. An order filed Tuesday in federal court says Hopkins and YEA have reached an agreement. Im still standing and using my voice to say what you did was wrong, she said. 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. Hopkins, 61, has not been charged and denies criminal wrongdoing. Ryan Macpherson, who hails from Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minnesota, will start his work as dean of the college on Aug. 1. 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. A tuba player lost feeling in their right hand, he said, and wasnt treated until the next day. Twelve women have told the Inquirer they were sexually harassed or abused by Hopkins over the nearly four decades he served as director of Allentown's famed Cadets, years during which he achieved rock-star-like status in the activity. Rescue operations underway as Wyoming blizzard continues to wreak havoc, Applications open for nonprofit 1-cent funding, Global race is on to improve EV range in the cold, Gordon discusses importance of focusing on Wyoming solutions, Moscow reportedly threatened new parents in Ukraine: Register your newborns as Russian or else, The impact of climate change will be felt worse in these three U.S. cities. After their third Finals appearance in 1980, the Cadets quickly regained the corps' former championship form. The negligence comes from a lot of places, Connell said. She told police that she passed out in his apartment and, when she woke up, Hopkins was gone. Taught numerous bands. 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 would fail to make DCI Finals for the first three years they were held and for six of DCI's first eight seasons. 1, 2 & 4 / Grover's Corner (from Our Town) & Appalachian Spring, Symphony No. The Casper Troopers perform during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field Friday evening. Jackie Fritsche You beat me to it. DCI.org: For the uninitiated, give us a brief history of YEA!'s relationship with the Crossmen. Since the crime occurred in 2010, before a recent amendment to Megans Law, Hopkins is not subject to sexual offender registration. [17], The Cadets was formerly part of Youth Education in the Arts (YEA! to take in order for its drum corps to participate in the upcoming 2018 DCI Summer Tour. Value of cutting back on your screen time, What the Tech? After the hearing, Hopkins' lawyer, Thomas Bergstrom, called the probationary sentence a fair result and said there were many inconsistencies in the accusers' stories. 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. In February 2023, CAE announced a long-term partnership with the Erie Sports Center, resulting in a decision to move The Cadets and all operations of CAE to Erie, Pa. has taken furt, Two former Youth Education in the Arts employees accused George Hopkins of sexual assault. The Casper Troopers perform during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field Friday evening, July 12, 2019. The DCI.org interview: George Hopkins 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. Also in '96, the Cadets performed at the Summer Olympics in Atlanta. The Troopers initially denied wrongdoing, but later issued a statement apologizing for its defensive posture after facing a social media backlash. Currently semi retired, while creating Act 2 of life. 93 (Mvts. I felt so used.". Consent matters.. The charges stemmed from alleged incidents involving two women. George Hopkins, exiting court in Allentown in December 2018, pleaded no contest Thursday to indecent assault. Anthony warned Hopkins that if he violated any conditions of probation he could be sent to a state prison. "' The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps . The 36-year-old woman addressed Anthony and spoke about years of fear, shame and depression as a result of the crime, which she did not immediately report. Never marched in high school band. She said he showed up at her apartment one morning, begged her for sex, then pushed her on the bed and raped her. also sponsored the recently inactive 2016 DCA Champion Cadets2 Drum Corps, 2014 WGI Independent Open Champion Cadets Winter Percussion, and Cadets Winter Guard; USBands (formerly United States Scholastic Band Association); the Urban Arts Center of the Lehigh Valley, which included the Xcape Dance Studio.[18]. reached a settlement in January 2019. Falk said the women were in agreement with the plea deal. George Hopkins on The Cadets 2017 Show | Marching Arts Education 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. Former Allentown Cadets director George Hopkins has settled a civil claim with the Cadets parent organization, Youth Education in the Arts, regarding compensation. In July, he sued the organization for more than $580,000 in severance pay. The Inquirer is telling me I need to go to another source, and there isnt one, he argued. In an online post last year, Hopkins called the allegations an orchestrated smear by those who disagreed with his management. Marie J DiDomenico Dont listen to them Steven, its the guard. You need to make sure that you are taking care of them. 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. Bergstrom reiterated his position that he cant effectively prepare a defense without access to the full interview. She said Hopkins' denials on social media after the allegations became public in 2018 he complained he had been smeared were a constant source of anxiety. 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. The Troopers arent the only prestigious drum corps hit with allegations in recent years. Consent matters.. In a fast-paced competitive environment like the Troopers, Calhoun said his mental illness problems soon led to physical injuries. This action was taken in reaction to the rigid, inflexible rules of the American Legion and VFW (the primary rule makers and sponsors of both corps and shows) and the low or nonexistent performance fees paid for appearing in the various competitions. I think from here on out, theres a new level and a new sense of accountability that we as alumni of the Corps are unified in making sure that these experiences dont happen again, said former Troopers color guard member Vanessa Connell. 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. And I never said no. Charles Mura, Michael Koeph, and the Rev. he sued the organization for more than $580,000 in severance pay. As temperatures have plunged this winter, water use has risen. In 1998, the corps rebranded once again, dropping any reference to locale from its name and becoming simply The Cadets. The Govenaires, an all-age/senior corps founded in 1927, retain the title of oldest continuously active 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. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. ACLU says it could take legal action over Saucon Valley School District rescinding approval for After School Satan Club, Big rig crashes from I-81 bridge onto street below in Schuylkill, 'He was a very humble guy': Reading High soccer coach remembers player killed in Route 33 crash, Eat, Sip, Shop: Refresh your ride at new Lehigh County store, selling high-quality car detailing products, Defense says accused former drums corps director weighing plea deal. Cadets official statement. George Hopkins has resigned. You have permission to edit this article. YEA! II, III, & IV) by, The Pines of the Appian Way & The Pines of Villa Borghese by, Devotions: Kyrie Eleison, Simple Song, De Profundis, Agnus Dei, Things Get Broken, Pax: Communion, and Offeratory (all from Mass by Leonard Bernstein) with incidental music by Drew Shanefield, Tom Aungst & Omar Carmenates, O Holy Name (Traditional) / Opening Scene by Drew Shanefield, Tom Aungst, and Omar Carmenates / Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel / Sensemaya by, Adrenaline City by Adam Gorb / St. Louis Blues by, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1990 (tie), 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998, 1983, 1984 (tie), 1987 (tie), 1990 (tie), 1993, 1998, 1983, 1984 (3-way tie), 1985 (tie), 1987 (tie), 1995 (3-way tie), This page was last edited on 15 February 2023, at 17:00. [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. Caren Blundetto-Frech John Hannigan, is there more than one child? YEA! By The Morning Call PUBLISHED: November 14, 2018 at 1:05 a.m. | UPDATED: November 14, 2018 at 1:32 a.m. The lyrics are taught to new members each summer and sung to the tune of "O Tannenbaum". The CAE Board of Directors approved this decision on Monday evening, February 13, 2023. The only ones that thought it was the kiss ass GH puppets/groupies/cult members. Allentown Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps separated from YEA and became the nonprofit Cadets Arts and Entertainment Inc. in May, stating they lost $1.5 million in sponsorships, donations and ticket sales after the allegations against Hopkins were made public. All that was claimed to have happened didnt happen. The Cadets has long been one of the top programs, attracting teens and young adults from around the world. 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). In an online post last year, Hopkins called the allegations an orchestrated smear by those who disagreed with his management. The Troopers Alumni band open during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field Friday evening, July 12, 2019. View George Hopkins' profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. [9] Claiming to have received no letter of resignation, the new board terminated Hopkins for cause. There was a problem saving your notification. In written remarks later directed at Hopkins, she said she had joined the Cadets bright-eyed, eager, and innocently believing that through hard work and integrity most things were possible., Instead, she said, working for the Cadets meant being subjected to verbal and sexual abuse. "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. Allentown Cadets hit hard financially by sexual misconduct scandal 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. This has directed more than enough negative attention to the Cadets when in reality, it should be pointed at George Hopkins himself. After the hearing, Hopkins lawyer, Thomas Bergstrom, called the probationary sentence a fair result and said there were many inconsistencies in the accusers stories. In her last season, she remembers a staffer being forced to resign after he was found to be sleeping with a member. ), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. 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. Not just for [the victim], but for all the women who are taken advantage of by predators like you, the judge said. But with the end of 2015, other changes occured. All that was claimed to have happened didnt happen. Cc: Youth Education in the Arts Board of Directors. It comes from a lot of different places.. Casper nonprofits can now apply for 1-cent funding through the city's official application process. But instead, he encountered a disorganized administrative team that seemed to be improvising on the job. It carries the same weight at sentencing as a guilty plea. Follow More from Medium Mark. National Park Service encourages folks to never push a slower friend down in bear encounters, Jillian Balow, former Wyoming schools superintendent, resigns from new job in Virginia, Pressure on House speaker intensifies as Hageman, national voices weigh in, Wyoming's Jeff Linder coaching his heart out for his dad, seniors Hunter Maldonado and Hunter Thompson, Officials investigating death in Converse County, KFC is bringing back a fan favorite after a nearly 10-year hiatus, Wyoming man admits to double murder, avoids possible death penalty, 2023 Wyoming State High School Boys Wrestling Championships results, Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help, Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps director resigns after allegations of unsafe culture, poor conditions, New Lutheran college in Casper announces academic dean. Bergstrom said the Inquirer interviewed Jessica Beyer in April 2018 and publicly aired the four to five-minute video. Crews were actively searching for people who were trapped, but having a hard time getting to them. For those who outright pretty much called me a liar, Lillian Petrullo-Yocovelli Thx you Caren Blundetto-Frech!! He now is awaiting trial in Lehigh County on charges of sexually assaulting two of the women. Advertisement Allentown News Lehigh County Judge James T. Anthony also fined Hopkins $5,000, the most allowed by law, and called him flatly disgusting.. Hopkins earned about $177,000 in 2017, according to the nonprofit's financial statements. One possible side effect of the frigid temps? CEO while denying the allegations. Hopkins did not testify Thursday. Chapter 5 Staff changes and letters to the board of directors . There was a problem saving your notification. Please know, you lose many, many GREAT people because of the reasons I listed and more. You have permission to edit this article. Life long member, teacher, and administrator of Drum Corps (from 19682019). The corps was known not only for its talent but for its traveling to compete. An online community dedicated to the marching arts, with a focus on drum corps. Free Access to this video! "I felt pressured and I felt cornered. "He's like, 'Are you all right?' Renowned drum corps leader resigns amid abuse allegations. ALLENTOWN, Pa. -- The longtime leader of a champion Pennsylvania-based drum and bugle corps has resigned in the wake of a newspaper report that contained allegations of sexual misconduct spanning nearly four decades.

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