There is an interview with Beyer that is readily available to the public that will allow the Bergstrom to build his defense, Berry argued. There was an error processing your request. 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. 10 in E minor, Op. "I never said yes. Charges were filed against Hopkins in November 2018, months after Youth Education in the Arts launched an investigation after about a dozen women accused Hopkins of sexual misconduct. 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. 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. Hopkins surrendered to authorities, was arraigned, and was released on $50,000 bail with a preliminary hearing scheduled for December 4. How to do some spring cleaning on your smartphone, What the Tech? Now, she told Hopkins, who stood a few feet from her in the courtroom, she feels stronger than ever. In a no-contest plea, a defendant does not admit guilt, but concedes that prosecutors have sufficient evidence to secure a conviction. George has 7 jobs listed on their profile. Success! Get local Breaking News alerts sent directly to your inbox. [2][3], The Garfield Cadets relocated outside Garfield to Hackensack and became the Cadets of Bergen County in 1989. In 1950, the Cadets went on the road for three weeks in order to defend their Legion title in Los Angeles. The charges are second-degree felonies. 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. One in four trooper positions are vacant. Mostly cloudy and drier, but a few scattered rain showers linger early, and perhaps a few snow showers at any point in the Poconos. 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. Free Access to this video! Assistant District Attorney Matthew Falk declined to comment afterward on whether the two sides were discussing a plea deal. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. She marched from 2015 to 2017, around the same time as Calhoun. 1, 2 & 4 / Grover's Corner (from Our Town) & Appalachian Spring, Symphony No. 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. Read more JESSICA GRIFFIN / Staff Photographer 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. There, she said, he gave her a glass of wine and sexually assaulted her. 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. Two former Youth Education in the Arts employees accused George Hopkins of sexual assault. George Hopkins has been charged in Lehigh County with two counts of sexual assault. Abusers like Hopkins benefit from a culture of exclusivity and competition thats common in drum corps. Board of Directors Resigns, New Board to Guide Organization", "Former drum corps director George Hopkins charged with sexual assault", "Finding no resignation letter, YEA board fired Hopkins with no severance", "DCI action on YEA! Error! Drum and bugle corps perform intricate routines that incorporate music, marching, dance and color guards. GEORGE HOPKINS 1983 - present George Hopkins, better known as "Hop" to his friends and marching Cadets, is the current Director of our corps, as well as the longest serving (25 years and still going strong). She said he showed up at her apartment one morning, begged her for sex, then pushed her on the bed and raped her. He followed that with eight additional DCI World Championships, most As part of the plea deal, prosecutors withdrew two charges of felony sexual assault and added the indecent assault count, a misdemeanor, to which Hopkins pleaded no contest. 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. 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. (A similar group of Midwestern corps, the Midwest Combine, was formed by the Blue Stars, Cavaliers, Madison Scouts, Santa Clara Vanguard, and the Troopers.) "[12] As a part of the terms of probation, the corps' reassessed their planned travel to the West Coast to open the season, and instead decided to proceed with a schedule redrawn for East Coast shows. "He's like, 'Are you all right?' 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. 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. 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? 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. Success! 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. The corps was known not only for its talent but for its traveling to compete. I just felt like, Well, youre right. The only ones that thought it was the kiss ass GH puppets/groupies/cult members. George Hopkins 260 Followers Life long member, teacher, and administrator of Drum Corps (from 1968-2019). All that was claimed to have happened didnt happen. For those who outright pretty much called me a liar, Lillian Petrullo-Yocovelli Thx you Caren Blundetto-Frech!! Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. She told police that she passed out in his apartment and, when she woke up, Hopkins was gone. It wasnt rape and it wasnt sexual assault, Bergstrom said. U kunt uw keuzes te allen tijde wijzigen door te klikken op de links 'Privacydashboard' op onze sites en in onze apps. The charge to which Hopkins pleaded no contest stemmed from a woman who said she was sexually assaulted in 2010. It comes from a lot of different places.. Taught numerous bands. 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. Consent matters.. The CAE Board of Directors approved this decision on Monday evening, February 13, 2023. 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. 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). [2][3][4], In 1972, the Garfield Cadets, along with the nine other corps from the Alliance and the Midwest Combine, plus the Anaheim Kingsmen, Argonne Rebels, and De La Salle Oaklands were founding members of Drum Corps International, which remains as the sanctioning body for junior corps in North America. 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. Lehigh County Judge James T. Anthony also fined Hopkins $5,000, the most allowed by law, and called him flatly disgusting.. 93 (Mvts. Error! The Casper Troopers perform during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field Friday evening. wondering if he would be able to field and/or finance a corps, and ended 1983 They sleep on hard gym floors, take water breaks on the run and get an average of one. 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. Hopkins, 61, has not been charged and denies criminal wrongdoing. 2; Steve Vickers, ed. 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. The whistleblowers say they went public after receiving a feeble response from the Troopers legal team. I wholeheartedly believe in the mission and vision of YEA! But, as Connell says, the problem is much deeper than a couple of creeps. [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 CEO of the Allentown-based Youth Education in the Arts, faces three felony counts of sexual assault for allegedly assaulting two former employees.
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