At the first DCI World Championships in Whitewater, Wisconsin, the Cadets just missed making Finals and finished in thirteenth place in a competition that featured thirty-nine corps from the East, the South, the West Coast, the Midwest and Great Plains, and Canada. Anthony warned Hopkins that if he violated any conditions of probation he could be sent to a state prison. Her husband, based on everything hes heard about drum corps from Connell, says he wouldnt let any of their children march. Wyoming teachers are leaving. Many of the women who spoke to Philly.com said they felt empowered to come forward by the #MeToo movement against sexual misconduct that has toppled powerful men in news and entertainment. [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. There was an error processing your request. 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. 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. 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. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. The Cadets Drum Corps (formerly the Holy Name Cadets, Cadets of Garfield, Garfield Cadets, and Cadets of Bergen County) is a World Class competitive junior drum and bugle corps. Hopkins was also accused of sexually assaulting another woman in Allentown in 2008. 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 Error! The corps traveled to Chicago for Legion Nationals at the members' own expense. [7] Later that day, Hopkins stepped down as director of The Cadets and YEA! It comes from a lot of different places.. And I never said no. Philly.com reported the alleged misconduct ranged from lewd comments and groping to rape. The. (YEA), the umbrella group that operates the Cadets and also serves 60,000 marching band . Prior to 2000 and the adoption of the current scoring format, the Cadets won these captions: A History of Drum & Bugle Corps Vol. 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. amid sexual allegations, Allentown Cadets board resigns amid allegations against ex-drum corps director, Defense says accused former drums corps director weighing plea deal. Folks were upset, nothing new, but this time, the anger took a more aggressive approach. Cadets are in troubleGH loves it that way.He wants there to be no Cadets if something happens to him.Cadets are in trouble for the FUTURE!!! Mostly cloudy and drier, but a few scattered rain showers linger early, and perhaps a few snow showers at any point in the Poconos. They wanted to shed a light on his behavior and for him to have a criminal record, he said. The negligence comes from a lot of places, Connell said. has taken furt, Two former Youth Education in the Arts employees accused George Hopkins of sexual assault. It wasnt rape and it wasnt sexual assault, Bergstrom said. Connell said she never had any problems with Jackson herself, but was hurt indirectly watching her close friends being neglected or silenced. Please subscribe to keep reading. One in four trooper positions are vacant. Stuart Evan Rice said in an interview this week that he told Dan Acheson . 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. "And he did it anyway. Youth in Education in the Arts has issued a second statement on Allentown Cadets director George Hopkins' resignation that came after a Philadelphia Inquirer article on sexual allegations. Taught numerous bands. to take in order for its drum corps to participate in the upcoming 2018 DCI Summer Tour. Hopkins, 63, was accused of sexual assault and harassment by nine women in a 2018 Inquirer article. [15], In response to Hopkins suing YEA! Value of cutting back on your screen time, What the Tech? In July, he sued the organization for more than $580,000 in severance pay. It comes from the higher-ups, it comes from the admin, it comes from the board of directors, it comes from the staff, the caption staff, the people that are in charge of putting on the show. [6] The only junior drum and bugle corps older than The Cadets is the Racine Scouts, which was founded in 1927. But with the end of 2015, other changes occured. Even snow plows and emergency vehicles were. You have permission to edit this article. Im still standing and using my voice to say what you did was wrong, she said. If you forget to do a step-off, someones going to collide into you with a 20-pound tuba. 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.. An order filed Tuesday in federal court says Hopkins and YEA have reached an agreement. Drum and bugle corps perform intricate routines that incorporate music, marching, dance and color guards. 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. 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. Never thought for once you were a liar!! 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. But if that is the consensus of the alumni maybe WE should ensure that there will be a future for the CADET organization! READ MORE: Nine women from Allentowns elite Cadets drum corps accuse director George Hopkins of sexual abuse and harassment. 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. I know this sub loves a good Hop story, so here you go. 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]. The former, longtime director of the Allentown Cadets competitive marching band entered a plea Thursday in a sexual assault case dating to 2018. George has 7 jobs listed on their profile. Not just for [the victim], but for all the women who are taken advantage of by predators like you, the judge said. Youth Education in the Arts governs the Allentown Cadets drum corps. 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. The charges are second-degree felonies. As one of the only returning baritones, he was offered the section head spot by Jackson but turned it down I thought I didnt deserve it.. George Hopkins, exiting court in Allentown in December 2018, pleaded no contest Thursday to indecent assault. The corps was known not only for its talent but for its traveling to compete. Fifteen years before nine women stepped forward to accuse drum corps leader George Hopkins of sexual abuse, a long-time critic says he warned the director of the activity's governing body of questionable behavior by Hopkins, but was dismissed. An order filed Tuesday in. 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. In her last season, she remembers a staffer being forced to resign after he was found to be sleeping with a member. But instead, he encountered a disorganized administrative team that seemed to be improvising on the job. But I never said yes," said Linda Riley. 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. A few times in my life I have tried to work with an executive assistant. He joined the staff of the Cadets in 1979 as percussion instructor and arranger, moving up to become Assistant Director under Dr. Santo . 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? [2][3], The Garfield Cadets relocated outside Garfield to Hackensack and became the Cadets of Bergen County in 1989. As part of a plea agreement, prosecutors withdrew two charges of felony sexual assault and added the indecent assault count, a misdemeanor, and Hopkins pleaded no contest to that charge. 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. 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. She told police that she passed out in his apartment and when she woke up, Hopkins was gone. with the Cadets as DCI World Championsthe first eastern corps ever to hold : p or should it be, willing away the cash cow?Someone sold our souls to this legacy (too) many years ago. 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. Edwin Garrity of the Holy Name Catholic parish in Garfield, New Jersey founded the Holy Name Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps in 1934 as an activity for the boys in the parish. "For 86 years, The Cadets have been leaders and innovators in performing arts education," Bonfiglio said. 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. Consent matters.. Caren Blundetto-Frech John Hannigan, is there more than one child? In a fast-paced competitive environment like the Troopers, Calhoun said his mental illness problems soon led to physical injuries. She said she told Hopkins no but was unable to fight off his sexual advances. Hopkins was forced out as director of the . wondering if he would be able to field and/or finance a corps, and ended 1983 Thats if they make it onto the corps which is decided over several monthly training camps, between which corps hopefuls have to complete video assignments and track their diet and exercise. During training, 150 members aged 14 to 22 rehearse for 12 hours a day, on their feet from morning to night. How to do some spring cleaning on your smartphone, What the Tech? Lehigh County Judge James T. Anthony also fined Hopkins $5,000, the most allowed by law, and called him flatly disgusting.. What is clear ---I need an assistant. A Chicago law firm has exonerated suspended Youth Education in the Arts employee Sean King. For members of the Casper-based Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps, summer is hardly a vacation. "I never said yes. Since the crime occurred in 2010, before a recent amendment to Megans Law, Hopkins is not subject to sexual offender registration. 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. Midway through the 1959 season, the parish allowed the corps to once more wear the uniform that remains their trademark. In a no-contest plea, a defendant does not admit guilt, but concedes that prosecutors have sufficient evidence to secure a conviction. agreed to take over the assets and liabilities of the Crossmen in 1997. He resigned from his post in early April amid sexual assault allegations, but the YEA board said it was firing Hopkins. 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. [17], The Cadets was formerly part of Youth Education in the Arts (YEA! Chapter 5 Staff changes and letters to the board of directors . DCI.org: For the uninitiated, give us a brief history of YEA!'s relationship with the Crossmen. [9] Claiming to have received no letter of resignation, the new board terminated Hopkins for cause. The Cadets of Bergen County won DCI Championships in 1990, '93, '98, and 2000. This is the resignation letter from the director of USBands (a YEA program that helps fund The Cadets) and reveals some interesting information. Not just for [the victim] but for all the women who are taken advantage of by predators like you, Anthony said. [19] On May 1, 2020, The Cadets announced the creation of a new 501(c)3 non-profit organization: Cadets Arts & Entertainment, Inc. Charles Mura, Michael Koeph, and the Rev. Former drum corps director expected to plead guilty to sex assault charges, 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? Crews were actively searching for people who were trapped, but having a hard time getting to them. Hopkins was hired by The Cadets in 1979 and became director in 1982, coaching the team to 10 world titles. 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. All that was claimed to have happened didnt happen. 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. 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. Get local Breaking News alerts sent directly to your inbox. Hopkins is out on $50,000 bail. says every person associated with its drum corps programs must sign a code of conduct, , There's another twist in the ongoing investigation over sexual assault allegations targeting, Documents obtained by 69 News appear to show former Youth Education in the Arts CEO and Alle, The investigation into sexual misconduct allegations at the Allentown Cadets drum and bugle , The organization that oversees Allentown's famed Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps. The corps quickly became one of the top competitive corps in the country. His arrival was fortuitous, because the Cadets were in crisis - lacking staff, Ryan Macpherson, who hails from Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minnesota, will start his work as dean of the college on Aug. 1. You have permission to edit this article. Give us your full drum corps/marching music background. In 198385, the Garfield Cadets became the first DCI corps to earn a three-peatthree consecutive DCI titles. Error! The Cadets began operating independently of YEA! That might be because people are running their faucets to keep pipes from freezing. First, I want to thank you for the opportunity you have afforded me in this role. Wanneer u onze sites en apps gebruikt, gebruiken we, gebruikers authenticeren, veiligheidsmaatregelen toepassen en spam en misbruik voorkomen, en, gepersonaliseerde advertenties en content weergeven op basis van interesseprofielen, de effectiviteit meten van gepersonaliseerde advertenties en content, en, onze producten en services ontwikkelen en verbeteren. 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. 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. Second, I want to thank the USBands team for their hard work. Currently semi retired, while creating Act 2 of life. By The Morning Call PUBLISHED: November 14, 2018 at 1:05 a.m. | UPDATED: November 14, 2018 at 1:32 a.m. In his federal lawsuit seeking severance pay and other monies, Hopkins asserts that he resigned from the organization by letter on April 5, and that his departure was "mutually agreed"-upon. Caren Blundetto-Frech This would be more appropriately titled as a BLACK SATURDAY sale . 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. 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. 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. organization was immediately put on a probationary status by DCI with the statement that, "The terms of the probation include multiple steps for YEA! It wasnt rape, and it wasnt sexual assault, Bergstrom said. Casper nonprofits can now apply for 1-cent funding through the city's official application process. The corps felt that not only were they having their creative potential as artistic performing groups stifled, but they were being financially starved. In the criminal case, prosecutors alleged 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. as of March 31, 2020. Wij, Yahoo, maken deel uit van de Yahoo-merkenfamilie. They dont eat lunch until their section is perfectly lined up by twos. {{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. For those who outright pretty much called me a liar, Lillian Petrullo-Yocovelli Thx you Caren Blundetto-Frech!! The Casper Troopers perform during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field Friday evening. 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. In a no contest plea, a defendant does not admit guilt, but concedes that prosecutors have sufficient evidence to secure a conviction. Lees ons privacybeleid en cookiebeleid voor meer informatie over hoe we uw persoonsgegevens gebruiken. Hopkins' accusers ranged from 16 to 37 at the time of the abuse and harassment they say they endured, including three who were members of The Cadets and five who worked for Youth Education in the Arts, the parent organization that Hopkins also led as chief executive officer until his resignation. 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. In addition, YEA! The Inquirer is telling me I need to go to another source, and there isnt one, he argued. There was a problem saving your notification. The Troopers arent the only prestigious drum corps hit with allegations in recent years. In an online post last year, Hopkins called the allegations an orchestrated smear by those who disagreed with his management. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Nickelodeons Kids Choice Awards: What Is Slime, and Why Do We Love It? He's due back in court in February. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Bergstrom reiterated his position that he cant effectively prepare a defense without access to the full interview. 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 Troopers Alumni band open during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field Friday evening, July 12, 2019. George Hopkins, the director of The Cadets, talks about the 2017 show, "The Faithful, The Fallen, The Forgiven." George talks about the process of designing the show, the use of the singers, the three different uniforms worn by the corps, and about the issues the activity is facing around amplification Updated Nov 13, 2018. [8] On April 11, the Board of Directors tendered its resignation and a new Board and officers immediately took over operations of the organization. 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. The Casper Troopers perform during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field Friday evening, July 12, 2019. There is an interview with Beyer that is readily available to the public that will allow the Bergstrom to build his defense, Berry argued. Sean King was named as interim CEO for YEA! Brand New App to watch all of WFMZ-TV News and Syndicated Programing 24/7 on your Streaming App enabled TV. In the suit, Hopkins denied he was fired by YEA, claiming he left the organization through a mutually agreeable cessation of employment.. . An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. There was a problem saving your notification. George Hopkins 260 Followers Life long member, teacher, and administrator of Drum Corps (from 1968-2019). Cc: Youth Education in the Arts Board of Directors. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. Its clear from the video that its been edited, and that the Inquirer has chosen to show only portions of the interview, he said. George Hopkins, exiting court in Allentown in December 2018, pleaded no contest Thursday to indecent assault. 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. Former Cadet Lee Ann Riley said she was 17 when Hopkins, then 23, forced himself on her and had sex with her. Now, she told Hopkins, who stood a few feet from her in the courtroom, she feels stronger than ever. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. She said she told Hopkins no but was unable to fight off his sexual advances. U kunt uw keuzes te allen tijde wijzigen door te klikken op de links 'Privacydashboard' op onze sites en in onze apps. Bergstrom said the Inquirer interviewed Jessica Beyer in April 2018 and publicly aired the four to five-minute video. You need to make sure that you are taking care of them. In a high-profile case that came to light in 2018, a former director of the Allentown Cadets was accused of sexual misconduct ranging from verbal harassment to rape by 12 women, several of them former corps members. YEA rejects ex-director's resignation, fires him amid allegations, New twists appear in relation to former Cadets Director George Hopkins, Investigation underway into YEA! In 2003, Yea! 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.". The Allentown Cadets drum and bugle corps lost sponsors, donors and engagements because of sexual misconduct allegations against its then-director George Hopkins. 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. 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. A six-month investigation into Allentown's Youth Education in the Arts is now complete. Allentown's Cadets drum and bugle corps forming non-profit, separating from YEA! She told police that she passed out in his apartment and, when she woke up, Hopkins was gone. and USBands affects the lives of tens of thousands of students each year and I feel humbled to have played a small part in that. 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. Never marched in high school band. Since the assault in the apartment occurred in 2010, before a recent amendment to Megans Law, Hopkins is not subject to sexual offender registration.