Steamy romance novelist who tried to trademark word ‘cocky’ is missing after being released from jail: She vanished days after being arrested for leading cops on 24-mile high-speed chase through Wyoming National Park
- Faleena Hopkins, 52, led police on a chase through a Wyoming national park
- She was arrested on January 27, released on January 30, but been missing since
- Hopkins made national headlines after she trademarked the word cocky in 2017
A romance novelist who was arrested after leading police on a 24-mile chase through a Wyoming national park last month has gone missing after being released from jail.
Faleena Hopkins, 52, was arrested on January 27 after a police chase through Grand Teton National Park during which they deployed spike strips to stop her car.
After being booked into Teton County jail, Hopkins was released and scheduled to appear in court later this month for an arraignment hearing.
According to the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation she has not been seen since January 30 in Jackson, the same day US Magistrate Judge Kelly Rankin released Hopkins from jail.
Hopkins is a self-published author of a fairly successful series of romantic novels The Cocker Brothers. She made national headlines in 2018 after she tried to trademark the work ‘cocky’.
Faleena Hopkins, 52, was arrested on January 27 after a police chase through Grand Teton National Park and has been missing since her release on January 30, according to the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation
Hopkins led police on a 24-mile mile chase through Grand Teton National Park last month (File picture of the park)
A friend of Hopkins told local newspaper Jackson Hole Daily that she had been missing for 10 days on Friday, February 10.
Hopkins was charged with obstructing traffic, speeding, ignoring stop signs, driving without due care and attempting to flee from the police, according to federal court records. She was also cited for being parked on a snowy route that is only fit for certain vehicles.
Those records also suggest Hopkins was released on a bond that did not require her to pay any money for her release.
Police are asking anyone with information to contact the Jackson Police Department or the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation.
‘She is a white female, approximately 5’7′, 135 pounds, with green eyes and blond hair,’ officials wrote in her missing persons listing.
They added: ‘Faleena has an infinity symbol on her left wrist, ‘Follow All Instincts’ on her right wrist, a lion face on her left shoulder and a hummingbird on her right ankle.’
In those court documents Hopkins says that she is a resident of Jackson, Wyoming, but the jail roster indicated that she actually lived in Seattle, Washington.
Hopkins is a self-published author of a fairly successful series of romantic novels called The Cocker Brothers. Each book is contains the word cocky in its title: Cocky Romantic, Cocky Biker, Cocky Cowboy. She famously trademarked the use of the word cocky in romantic novels in 2017
On her LinkedIn page Hopkins describes herself as a novelist, screenwriter, director, actress and president of Hop Hop Productions. The business is registered on Park Avenue in New York City
A record in the US Patents and Trademarks Office revealed that in September 2017 Hopkins trademarked the word cocky in the name of her company Hop Hop Productions Inc
Romance author Jamila Jasper posted on Twitter in May 2018 the email (pictured) said she received from Hopkins
Hopkins is perhaps most famous for her Cocker Brothers series of books, which tells the story of ‘Six bad boy brothers you’ll want to marry or hide under you [sic] bed,’ the Guardian reported in 2018.
Each book is contains the word cocky in its title: Cocky Romantic, Cocky Biker and Cocky Cowboy.
Hopkins claims to have published more than 40 novels and ‘sold over a million in the Cocker Brothers series’. Jake Cocker, the first book in the series has more than 1,500 reviews on its Amazon Audible page, and an average rating of 4.3 out of 5.
A record in the US Patents and Trademarks Office revealed that in September 2017 Hopkins trademarked the word cocky in the name of her company Hop Hop Productions Inc.
In particular she was trying to acquire control of the right to use the word cocky in the context if romantic novels. She went so far as to seek injunctions against various authors who had used the word in the titles of their books.
Hopkins claims to have published more than 40 novels and ‘sold over a million in the Cocker Brothers series’
Romance author Jamila Jasper posted on Twitter in May 2018 the email said she received from Hopkins telling her: ‘The Federal Trademark Commission had granted me the official registered trademark of the word/mark “Cocky”‘.
‘My attorney at Morris Yorn Entertainment Law has advised me that if I sue you I will win all the monies you have earned on this title,’ she allegedly wrote. ‘I will do that – but I’d rather give you the option.’
The Authors Guild and Romance Writers of America joined forces to provide legal assistance to once such author who had been targeted by Hopkins.
The said that ‘countless romance novels employed “cocky”‘ in their titles before Hopkins tried to claim it and that ‘no one should hold a monopoly on cocky’.
It would be ‘like an author claiming trademark rights in the word death as a series title for murder mysteries and suing anyone who used that word in the title of their crime stories’.
According to the patent office website, Hopkins surrendered her trademark on August 2, 2018.
On her LinkedIn page Hopkins describes herself as a novelist, screenwriter, director, actress and president of Hop Hop Productions. The business is registered on Park Avenue in New York.
Hopkins is still due to appear in federal court at 10am on February 28 for an arraignment via Zoom.
Source: Read Full Article
