Allentown Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps separated from YEA and became the nonprofit Cadets Arts & Entertainment Inc. in May, stating it had lost $1.5 million in sponsorships, donations, and ticket sales after the allegations against Hopkins were made public in the 2018 Inquirer account. Prior to 2000 and the adoption of the current scoring format, the Cadets won these captions: A History of Drum & Bugle Corps Vol. Renowned drum corps leader resigns amid abuse allegations Casper nonprofits can now apply for 1-cent funding through the city's official application process. Former Cadets described him as a charismatic leader, while former office. It wasnt rape and it wasnt sexual assault, Bergstrom said. April 13, 2018. ), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. They wanted to shed a light on his behavior and for him to have a criminal record, he said. Lehigh County Judge James T. Anthony also fined Hopkins $5,000, the most allowed by law, and called him flatly disgusting.. I just felt like, Well, youre right. There are so many other things that Ive witnessed as a marching member, but theyre not my stories to tell, Connell said. Wyoming teachers are leaving. The Cadets have won these caption awards:[25], John Brazale Best Visual Performance Award, George Zingali Best Color Guard Performance Award, Fred Sanford Best Percussion Performance Award. 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. Two additional women, including Beyer, came forward within days to say they were also victims. 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. The negligence comes from a lot of places, Connell said. She said she told Hopkins no but was unable to fight off his sexual advances. 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. 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 pleaded no contest in Lehigh. She said Hopkins words on social media after the allegations became public in 2018 were a constant source of anxiety. 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. 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. 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. In an online post last year, Hopkins called the allegations an orchestrated smear by those who disagreed with his management. The prosecution on Wednesday did not take a position on the defenses request. Assistant District Attorney Matthew Falk declined to comment afterward on whether the two sides were discussing a plea deal. Former Cadets described him as a charismatic leader, while former office workers said he was a volatile, often verbally abusive boss. The judge did question how the defense would know if the witness impeached her own testimony on the stand, if it didnt know ahead of time what she may have said in an earlier interview. You have permission to edit this article. Former Allentown Cadets director George Hopkins has settled a civil claim with the Cadets parent organization, Youth Education in the Arts, regarding compensation. [7] Later that day, Hopkins stepped down as director of The Cadets and YEA! Charles Mura, Michael Koeph, and the Rev. 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 . CEO while denying the allegations. In July, he sued the organization for more than $580,000 in severance pay. 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. The truth about George Hopkins : r/drumcorps - reddit Beyer, who said Hopkins assaulted her after she went to work for the corps, watched his plea and sentencing Thursday, but did not speak in court. 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. [19] On May 1, 2020, The Cadets announced the creation of a new 501(c)3 non-profit organization: Cadets Arts & Entertainment, Inc. Their biggest resource in that effort may be the very people who are speaking out. ; 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! 39K subscribers in the drumcorps community. "We are now opening a new chapter in the storied history of The Cadets by creating a 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity guided by the following founding principles: To educate youth from around the globe on the value of teamwork, inclusiveness, kindness, self-expression, and open communication; To create a safe and inclusive environment for all participants; and To enrich lives by teaching critical development skills required for the pursuit of personal excellence.". There was an error processing your request. 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. In July, he sued the organization for more than $580,000 in severance pay. moved its base of operations to Allentown, Pennsylvania and The Cadets relocated along with it. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. The group said it was taking steps to address the issues raised by past members, and has subsequently hired a new interim director. 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. "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. The Cadets won additional DCI championships in 2005 and 2011, the corps' ninth and tenth in forty seasons.[3]. 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. There was a problem saving your notification. 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. The investigation into Hopkins conduct found he had little oversight from the Cadets board, giving him the freedom to throw things when angry in rehearsals, refer to women as little girls, and send inappropriate sexual emails on the organizations server. 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. 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. Read more JESSICA GRIFFIN / Staff Photographer has taken furt, Two former Youth Education in the Arts employees accused George Hopkins of sexual assault. "And he did it anyway. This is our director.". View George Hopkins' profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. . For members of the Casper-based Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps, summer is hardly a vacation. The reasons why may be about more than money. 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. 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. Chapter 5 Staff changes and letters to the board of directors . 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]. After the allegations surfaced, Hopkins resigned in April and was then fired by a new board of directors. It is clear that this is not something you are okay with. "There were some tears. The charge to which Hopkins pleaded no contest stemmed from one victim who said she was sexually assaulted in 2010 at age 26, and who provided her account to The Inquirer in 2018. [7] Later that day, Hopkins stepped down as director of The Cadets and YEA! He began as Director in 1983 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. 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. Consent matters.. He's due back in court in February. 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. The charges are second-degree felonies. 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. After their third Finals appearance in 1980, the Cadets quickly regained the corps' former championship form. Allentown Cadets hit hard financially by sexual misconduct scandal 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. 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. Anthony warned Hopkins that if he violated any conditions of probation, he could be sent to a state prison. 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. Stuart Evan Rice said in an interview this week that he told Dan Acheson . George Hopkins, exiting court in Allentown in December 2018, pleaded no contest Thursday to indecent assault. I was just going to say, check his will! 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. The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps - Wikipedia Updated Nov 13, 2018. 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. 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 decision to leave wasnt easy, especially since the messaging within the organization encourages members to deal with the hardships or be seen as weak. The Troopers arent the only prestigious drum corps hit with allegations in recent years. Most of the time, the individual is NOT an assistant but someone who would like to assist. creates new code of conduct after sexual harassment allegations, Fired! Philly.com reported the alleged misconduct ranged from lewd comments and groping to rape.