Two more women say they were raped by George Hopkins, bringing to 11 the number who have accused the former drum and bugle corps director of sexual misconduct. You have permission to edit this article. Updated Nov 13, 2018. During training, 150 members aged 14 to 22 rehearse for 12 hours a day, on their feet from morning to night. An order filed Tuesday in federal court says Hopkins and YEA have reached an agreement. They sleep on hard gym floors, take water breaks on the run and get an average of one day off per month. established a hotline for calls to report concerns or complaints.[11]. Hopkins is facing two sexual assault charges after nearly a dozen women came forward with allegations in 2018. In an online post last year, Hopkins called the allegations an orchestrated smear by those who disagreed with his management. Youth Education in the Arts governs the Allentown Cadets drum corps. The Allentown Cadets drum and bugle corps lost sponsors, donors and engagements because of sexual misconduct allegations against its then-director George Hopkins. The Inquirer is telling me I need to go to another source, and there isnt one, he argued. Error!
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In July, he sued the organization for more than $580,000 in severance pay. Thank you again for the opportunity and best of luck. 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. Hopkins was also accused of sexually assaulting another woman in Allentown in 2008. 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]. Not just for [the victim] but for all the women who are taken advantage of by predators like you, Anthony said. He joined the staff of the Cadets in 1979 as percussion instructor and arranger, moving up to become Assistant Director under Dr. Santo . George Hopkins, exiting court in Allentown in December 2018, pleaded no contest Thursday to indecent assault. 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. If you forget to do a step-off, someones going to collide into you with a 20-pound tuba. [10] The organization also hired a Chicago labor and employment law firm, Franczek Radelet, to investigate the accusations against Hopkins as well as YEA!s policies and procedures for providing a safe environment for youth members, employees, and volunteers. Please know, you lose many, many GREAT people because of the reasons I listed and more. "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. I was just going to say, check his will! The lyrics are taught to new members each summer and sung to the tune of "O Tannenbaum". First, I want to thank you for the opportunity you have afforded me in this role. All that was claimed to have happened didnt happen. April 13, 2018. On Wednesday, he told Lehigh County Judge James Anthony that the Inquirer has refused to provide the full video. 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, Former Allentown Cadets director issues statement claiming innocence, Charges filed against former Allentown Cadets director, Investigation into YEA sexual misconduct allegations complete, Report clears former YEA interim CEO of wrongdoing, YEA! In 1996, sponsorship of the corps was passed to Youth Education in the Arts (YEA), an umbrella organization sponsoring several youth and musical activities. After the hearing, Hopkins' lawyer, Thomas Bergstrom, called the probationary sentence a fair result and said there were many inconsistencies in the accusers' stories. The Troopers arent the only prestigious drum corps hit with allegations in recent years. This is the resignation letter from the director of USBands (a YEA program that helps fund The Cadets) and reveals some interesting information. READ MORE: Nine women from Allentowns elite Cadets drum corps accuse director George Hopkins of sexual abuse and harassment. Now, she told Hopkins, who stood a few feet from her in the courtroom, she feels stronger than ever. At one point, a staff member called members of his section worthless to their faces, because they couldnt march without passing out from untended injuries. Get local Breaking News alerts sent directly to your inbox. Calhoun marched in 2016 and 2017 before leaving the corps in July of his second year in the midst of mental and physical illness, compounded by the rigors of tour. 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. You have permission to edit this article. In the criminal case, prosecutors allege Hopkins, of Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, sexually assaulted a former employee at his Allentown apartment after they met at a bar to discuss drum corps rules. [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. This is the performing arts, you dont need to be like this.. 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. The dozen 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 prosecution on Wednesday did not take a position on the defenses request. Currently semi retired, while creating Act 2 of life. The. Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps members perform during the corps' 50th anniversary gathering in July 2011. The judge opined that this situation is very different than, say, a defendants statement to police, a full copy of which would be made available to the defense by the prosecution. In 198385, the Garfield Cadets became the first DCI corps to earn a three-peatthree consecutive DCI titles. that title. has taken furt, Two former Youth Education in the Arts employees accused George Hopkins of sexual assault.
You can cancel at any time. Bergstrom reiterated his position that he cant effectively prepare a defense without access to the full interview. Hopkins attended Wednesdays proceeding but did not address the court. In a no contest plea, a defendant does not admit guilt, but concedes that prosecutors have sufficient evidence to secure a conviction. She said the memories can, at times, still knock the wind out of me, but I get up., I dont just get up and go to work to hide my pain and put the abuse behind me, she wrote. [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. Hopkins, 63, is awaiting trial on three counts of felony sexual assault. Anthony warned Hopkins that if he violated any conditions of probation he could be sent to a state prison. he sued the organization for more than $580,000 in severance pay. 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. wondering if he would be able to field and/or finance a corps, and ended 1983
Former Allentown Cadets director George Hopkins settles with YEA on The negligence comes from a lot of places, Connell said. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. 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. In the suit, Hopkins denied he was fired by YEA, claiming he left the organization through a mutually agreeable cessation of employment.. George Hopkins, YEA settle civil suit regarding compensation, Stormcenter - School / Business Application. Sean King was named as interim CEO for YEA! George Hopkins, the former director of the renowned Allentown Cadets drum and bugle corps, appeared in a Lehigh County courtroom Tuesday morning and gave up his right to a preliminary hearing on . But with the end of 2015, other changes occured. In her last season, she remembers a staffer being forced to resign after he was found to be sleeping with a member. There, she said, he gave her a glass of wine and sexually assaulted her. Never marched in high school band. George Hopkins 247 Followers Life long member, teacher, and administrator of Drum Corps (from 1968-2019). Success! 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. 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. View George Hopkins' profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. Allentown's Cadets drum and bugle corps forming non-profit, separating from YEA! The charges stemmed from alleged incidents involving two women. 39K subscribers in the drumcorps community. Former Allentown Cadets director George Hopkins has settled a civil claim with the Cadets parent organization, Youth Education in the Arts, regarding compensation. It wasnt rape and it wasnt sexual assault, Bergstrom said. 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. [17], The Cadets was formerly part of Youth Education in the Arts (YEA! Als u uw keuzes wilt aanpassen, klik dan op 'Privacyinstellingen beheren'. In addition, YEA!
Hopkins, George | WDCHOF She said Hopkins words on social media after the allegations became public in 2018 were a constant source of anxiety. "Dear George Hopkins, This letter is to inform you of my resignation as Director of USBands, effective immediately.
Allentown Cadets hit hard financially by sexual misconduct scandal This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
The Troopers and other corps under the Drum Corps International umbrella are now left to reckon with the allegations brought against them on a deeper level, beyond personnel. 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? 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. DCI.org: For the uninitiated, give us a brief history of YEA!'s relationship with the Crossmen. In 1937, the corps song, "O Holy Name", was written for the corps. I felt so used.". [10] On September 22, 2020, Hopkins pleaded no contest to indecent assault and was sentenced to two years probation[14] and fined $5,000. I am not a Trooper, Im just a sack of meat, just sitting on the ground being worthless..
Renowned former drum corps leader charged with sex assault | Fox News All Rights Reserved. Cadets Drum Corps Sep 1982 - Apr 2018 35 years 8 months .
George Hopkins - Medium I believe you, Calhoun said, I am worthless. He began as Director in 1983 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. Morning Call reporter Laurie Mason Schroeder can be reached at 610-820-6506 or lmason@mcall.com. Give us your full drum corps/marching music background. His credentials, his experience, his talents, his imagination, and his intellect are formidable. [5] In January 2009, The Cadets marched in President Barack Obama's Inaugural Parade in Washington, D.C. Genesis from Austin, Texas performs during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field Friday evening, July 12, 2019.
Allentown's Cadets drum and bugle corps forming non-profit, separating from YEA! There are so many other things that Ive witnessed as a marching member, but theyre not my stories to tell, Connell said. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. During his tenure, Hopkins took the Cadets to 10 world championships and was an icon in the drum corps community. Folks were upset, nothing new, but this time, the anger took a more aggressive approach. It is clear that this is not something you are okay with. 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. 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.
Broke-down buses, Ibuprofen, and a sex offender: On the road with This is art. The Cadets of Bergen County won DCI Championships in 1990, '93, '98, and 2000. Executive Director, Youth Education in the Arts Director, nine-time DCI World Championship Cadets D&B Corps Social Studies Teacher: Aston Township HS (PA) 1979-80 Band Director: Northern Highlands High School (NJ), 1984
Awaiting trial for sex assault, former Allentown bugle corps director The Cadets has long been one of the top programs, attracting teens and young adults from around the world. As presented, the Cadets did turn to Black renditions of the Cadets uniforms at the end of 2015. This has directed more than enough negative attention to the Cadets when in reality, it should be pointed at George Hopkins himself. He followed that with eight additional DCI World Championships, most Former Cadet Lee Ann Riley said she was 17 when Hopkins, then 23, forced himself on her and had sex with her. 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.
George Hopkins Bio The YEA!
Former drum corps leader pleads no contest to indecent assault; judge [20] A new Board of Directors was established, led by former CEO and Cadets Director Denise Bonfiglio. Wij, Yahoo, maken deel uit van de Yahoo-merkenfamilie. She marched from 2015 to 2017, around the same time as Calhoun. U kunt uw keuzes te allen tijde wijzigen door te klikken op de links 'Privacydashboard' op onze sites en in onze apps. 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]. At 192 beats per minute.. 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. to recruit potential members is a Cadet legend. One possible side effect of the frigid temps? In addition to The Cadets, YEA! For those who outright pretty much called me a liar, Lillian Petrullo-Yocovelli Thx you Caren Blundetto-Frech!! The decision to leave wasnt easy, especially since the messaging within the organization encourages members to deal with the hardships or be seen as weak. Nickelodeons Kids Choice Awards: What Is Slime, and Why Do We Love It? The group keeps up a grueling practice and travel schedule, performing throughout the United States. It comes from a lot of different places.. Bergstrom argued that the states shield laws do not apply in this case as the Inquirer is not protecting a confidential source or communication. She told police that she passed out in his apartment and, when she woke up, Hopkins was gone. 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. 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. Copyright 2023 by The Associated Press. Her twin sister, Linda Riley, also a Cadet, said Hopkins had sex with her without her consent two summers later, when she was 19. These PEOPLE are your most important asset. Former drum corps director awaiting trial in sex assault case sues for severance, Former drums corps director pleads no-contest to 2010 indecent assault, Closure of YEA is final chapter in series of struggles over the years, Fire broke out in a Lower Macungie apartment building, Champions of Magic's Alex McAleer gives an exciting look at the upcoming live show, Pet of the Month: Nina from Ruff Life Rescue, Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor needs volunteers, Allentown Public Library celebrates Dr. Seuss's birthday with children's activities, Kindness Project teams up with Flavor Nation to give away free tacos, History's Headlines: The Lehigh Valley's music man, Berks County Parks invites people to their Winter Wellness Walk, Royals host "kids takeover" game where kids get a taste of the sports business, Wilson School students raise $83k to fight childhood cancer, Berks County Intermediate Unit receives $3.18 million in grants for Head Start programs, 'First in the nation' bill to provide free screenings for breast cancer to receive full Pa. Senate vote, Reading Area Water Authority looking for leak on North Heidelberg Township line, Former Penn State Berks soccer player among dead in violent Monroe County crash, Biden expected to tighten rules on US investment in China, Paid express lanes grow more popular in once-reluctant South, Ukraine ally Kallas fights for reelection in Estonia vote, In Chicago, adapting electric buses to winters challenges, Pot vote has Oklahoma hungry to rake in green from Texas, Global race to boost electric vehicle range in cold weather, In Britain, warm hubs emerge to beat soaring energy costs, 6 Nigerian states drop suit to void presidential vote result, The implications of Walgreens' decision on abortion pills, What the Tech? Im angry. On November 13, Hopkins was indicted in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania for sexual assault, based on accusations of two women who are former employees of YEA. 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. He now is awaiting trial in Lehigh County on charges of sexually assaulting two of the women. You need to make sure that you are taking care of them.
Ex-Allentown Cadets director George Hopkins charged with sexual assault There was a problem saving your notification. 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.
Cadets official statement. George Hopkins has resigned. The Cadets won additional DCI championships in 2005 and 2011, the corps' ninth and tenth in forty seasons.[3].
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