Some people may be able to give 12 hours a day to the cause, and that is great for them and you, but my life is outside of YEA! Hopkins is out on $50,000 bail. He followed that with eight additional DCI World Championships, most Free Access to this video! Hopkins had been suing YEA for $650,000 in severance, vacation and expenses. 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. [9] Claiming to have received no letter of resignation, the new board terminated Hopkins for cause. Get local Breaking News alerts sent directly to your inbox. Hopkins, 61, has not been charged and denies criminal wrongdoing. In a fast-paced competitive environment like the Troopers, Calhoun said his mental illness problems soon led to physical injuries. Jackie Fritsche You beat me to it. 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.. All Rights Reserved. I wholeheartedly believe in the mission and vision of YEA! A six-month investigation into Allentown's Youth Education in the Arts is now complete. 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. To honor their 75th anniversary, the corps was called the Holy Name Cadets for the 2009 season. Overall, the deficit was about $200,000. "' The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps . I want to see what else is in that video that is dramatically different than what she told detectives two months later, Bergstrom said. During training, 150 members aged 14 to 22 rehearse for 12 hours a day, on their feet from morning to night. First, I want to thank you for the opportunity you have afforded me in this role. George Hopkins. An order filed Tuesday in. George Hopkins has been charged in Lehigh County with two counts of sexual assault. There was an error processing your request. [2][3], In 1958, the Holy Name parish declined to support the corps' travel and disbanded the corps. Falk said the victims were in agreement with the plea negotiation. George Hopkins, YEA settle civil suit regarding compensation, Stormcenter - School / Business Application. You have permission to edit this article. "This is a painful moment for all those who care about The Cadets," Youth Education in the Arts, the nonprofit that runs The Cadets, said in a statement on its website. His credentials, his experience, his talents, his imagination, and his intellect are formidable. The judge set a Dec. 17 hearing on the defenses motion to dismiss the charges. The Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps perform during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field in July 2018. Wyoming teachers are leaving. Hopkins earned about $177,000 in 2017, according to the nonprofit's financial statements. The. Former Cadets described him as a charismatic leader, while former office. In 1937, the corps song, "O Holy Name", was written for the corps. Midway through the 1959 season, the parish allowed the corps to once more wear the uniform that remains their trademark. I get they try to model it like the military, and in the military, youre only as strong as your weakest link, Calhoun said. Instead, Beyer is very much in the public eye, and the defense is asking to see the entire video interview, not a reporters notes, he said. 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. I felt so used.". established a hotline for calls to report concerns or complaints.[11]. 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. 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. reached a settlement in January 2019. The woman told police that when she stood up to leave the bar, she felt like she was moving in Jello.. Genesis from Austin, Texas performs during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field Friday evening, July 12, 2019. But no one is irreplaceable. Anthony warned Hopkins that if he violated any conditions of probation he could be sent to a state prison. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Brand New App to watch all of WFMZ-TV News and Syndicated Programing 24/7 on your Streaming App enabled TV. Im still standing and using my voice to say what you did was wrong, she said. The reasons why may be about more than money. In an online post last year, Hopkins called the allegations an orchestrated smear by those who disagreed with his management. YEA! Never marched in high school band. As temperatures have plunged this winter, water use has risen. Their biggest resource in that effort may be the very people who are speaking out. 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. 1 / Adagio for Strings / Medea's Dance of Vengeance, The Promise of Living (from The Tender Land) / Lincoln Portrait / Music for the Theater, Mvts. (YEA), the umbrella group that operates the Cadets and also serves 60,000 marching band . After the summer of 2020, the first summer in years without a Troopers tour, Ian Calhoun said he started to hear from friends hed made at the corps who were interested in reporting some of their experiences to the advocacy group MAASIN (Marching Arts Access, Safety & Inclusion Network). Im angry. At 192 beats per minute.. [10] On September 22, 2020, Hopkins pleaded no contest to indecent assault and was sentenced to two years probation[14] and fined $5,000. 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. 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. Hopkins was also accused of sexually assaulting another woman in Allentown in 2008. He now is awaiting trial in Lehigh County on charges of sexually assaulting two of the women. By Staff. The Casper Troopers perform during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field Friday evening. In 1998, the corps rebranded once again, dropping any reference to locale from its name and becoming simply The Cadets. There was a problem saving your notification. Error! Philly.com reported the alleged misconduct ranged from lewd comments and groping to rape. He joined the staff of the Cadets in 1979 as percussion instructor and arranger, moving up to become Assistant Director under Dr. Santo . The woman told police that when she stood up to leave the bar, she felt like she was moving in Jell-O.. I expect my final paycheck on October 18 which should include the agreed upon amount for moving expenses that has not been paid since starting in February 2017. 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. If his probation officer recommends it, Hopkins will have to undergo sex offender therapy. There is an interview with Beyer that is readily available to the public that will allow the Bergstrom to build his defense, Berry argued. The CAE Board of Directors approved this decision on Monday evening, February 13, 2023. 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. How to do some spring cleaning on your smartphone, What the Tech? 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. 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. First, I want to thank you for the opportunity you have afforded me in this role. Since the assault in the apartment occurred in 2010, before a recent amendment to Megans Law, Hopkins is not subject to sexual offender registration. 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 said he showed up at her apartment one morning, begged her for sex, then pushed her on the bed and raped her. As presented, the Cadets did turn to Black renditions of the Cadets uniforms at the end of 2015. On Wednesday, he told Lehigh County Judge James Anthony that the Inquirer has refused to provide the full video. George Hopkins 247 Followers Life long member, teacher, and administrator of Drum Corps (from 1968-2019). Marched in the Holts Hornets from 1968-1970. In 1987, the corps won its fourth DCI crown in five years. [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. 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. "I felt pressured and I felt cornered. 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. . He resigned from his post in early April amid sexual assault allegations, but the YEA board said it was firing Hopkins. Currently semi retired, while creating Act 2 of life. Vicki Ferrence Ray, Interim Executive Director of CAE, subsequently signed an agreement to make the Erie Sports Center The Cadets' year-round home. In the suit, Hopkins denied he was fired by YEA, claiming he left the organization through a mutually agreeable cessation of employment.. 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