Currently semi retired, while creating Act 2 of life. The charge to which Hopkins pleaded no contest stemmed from a woman who said she was sexually assaulted in 2010. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Hopkins, George. Hopkins earned about $177,000 in 2017, according to the nonprofit's financial statements. What is clear ---I need an assistant. The former, longtime director of the Allentown Cadets competitive marching band entered a plea Thursday in a sexual assault case dating to 2018. Als u niet wilt dat wij en onze partners cookies en persoonsgegevens voor deze aanvullende doeleinden gebruiken, klik dan op 'Alles weigeren'. She said that one evening in 2008, Hopkins asked her to come to his Allentown apartment to do some work. Hopkins was hired by The Cadets in 1979 and became director in 1982, coaching the team to 10 world titles. Allentown's Cadets drum and bugle corps forming non-profit, separating from YEA! 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. Her twin sister, Linda Riley, also a Cadet, said Hopkins had sex with her without her consent two summers later, when she was 19. At 192 beats per minute.. 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. 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. 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. ; Last edited on 15 February 2023, at 17:00, United States Scholastic Band Association, "corpsreps.com The Drum Corps Repertoire Database", "Determination: Believing in the Midwest Combine", "Bang the Drum Slowly: A Championship Drum and Bugle Corps Leaves the State", "The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps: A history of alleged sexual abuse", "Statement from the Board of Directors of Youth Education in the Arts", "YEA! They became the 507 Hornets -- I marched there from 1971-1974. Also in 1971, the Garfield Cadets, along with the 27th Lancers, Boston Crusaders, Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights, and Blue Rock, formed the United Organization of Junior Corps (also known as the "Alliance"). Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Casper Star-Tribune. "And he did it anyway. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Copyright 2023 by The Associated Press. won with field programs that were, and still are, viewed as ground-breaking. 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. George Hopkins, exiting court in Allentown in December 2018, pleaded no contest Thursday to indecent assault. that title. 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. Nickelodeons Kids Choice Awards: What Is Slime, and Why Do We Love It? And thats the sad part, those people that truly went through something hard, something life-altering and traumatic, are scared to talk about it.. Through his attorney, Hopkins said he did not know who Marie is, but denied her allegation. As presented, the Cadets did turn to Black renditions of the Cadets uniforms at the end of 2015. For members of the Casper-based Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps, summer is hardly a vacation. 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. Currently semi retired, while creating Act 2 of life. how enemies came to be friends. Even snow plows and emergency vehicles were. George Hopkins, the former director of Allentown's famed Cadets drum corps, was charged Tuesday with sexually assaulting two former employees, another striking turn in what had been an illustrious, four-decade-long career that took Hopkins to the top of the national youth activity. She told police that she passed out in his apartment and when she woke up, Hopkins was gone. 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. You can cancel at any time. 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. 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 Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps . An online community dedicated to the marching arts, with a focus on drum corps. Exercise was often used as punishment for messing up. There are so many other things that Ive witnessed as a marching member, but theyre not my stories to tell, Connell said. 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 judge set a Dec. 17 hearing on the defenses motion to dismiss the charges. 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. The negligence comes from a lot of places, Connell said. amid sexual allegations, Allentown Cadets board resigns amid allegations against ex-drum corps director, Defense says accused former drums corps director weighing plea deal. 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. established a hotline for calls to report concerns or complaints.[11]. 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 City of Erie welcomed The Cadets with open arms, offering access to local business relationships, services, volunteers, and new opportunities for funding and partnerships. The only ones that thought it was the kiss ass GH puppets/groupies/cult members. Falk said the victims were in agreement with the plea negotiation. I believe you, Calhoun said, I am worthless. Give us your full drum corps/marching music background. 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. George Hopkins, exiting court in Allentown in December 2018, pleaded no contest Thursday to indecent assault. In 2003, Yea! But with the end of 2015, other changes occured. But no one is irreplaceable. You have permission to edit this article. In 198385, the Garfield Cadets became the first DCI corps to earn a three-peatthree consecutive DCI titles. In 1987, the corps won its fourth DCI crown in five years. Vicki Ferrence Ray, Interim Executive Director of CAE, subsequently signed an agreement to make the Erie Sports Center The Cadets' year-round home. Success! In the suit, Hopkins denied he was fired by YEA, claiming he left the organization through a mutually agreeable cessation of employment.. Michael Berry, attorney for the Inquirer, countered that the defense could interview Beyer on its own or cross-examine her at trial. 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. The reasons why may be about more than money. YEA! Assistant District Attorney Matthew Falk declined to comment afterward on whether the two sides were discussing a plea deal. 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. 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. 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 Cadets began operating independently of YEA! reached a settlement in January 2019. Currently semi retired, while creating Act 2 of life. 39K subscribers in the drumcorps community. : p or should it be, willing away the cash cow?Someone sold our souls to this legacy (too) many years ago. 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. Mostly cloudy and drier, but a few scattered rain showers linger early, and perhaps a few snow showers at any point in the Poconos. How to do some spring cleaning on your smartphone, What the Tech? 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 There was an error processing your request. Jackie Fritsche You beat me to it. The Casper Troopers perform during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field Friday evening, July 12, 2019. But instead, he encountered a disorganized administrative team that seemed to be improvising on the job. 10 in E minor, Op. The Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps perform during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field in July 2018. This time, people considered dramatic steps to change the face of the Cadets and for all time, to shift the trajectory of the most honored drum and bugle corps in history. Philly.com reported the alleged misconduct ranged from lewd comments and groping to rape. Success! separated from YEA and became the nonprofit Cadets Arts & Entertainment Inc. Hopkins called the allegations an orchestrated smear, Report: Drum corps leader threw things at work, called women little girls, California residents do not sell my data request. One possible side effect of the frigid temps? These PEOPLE are your most important asset. {{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.