Christina Spicer  |  October 23, 2020

Category: Legal News

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"Cheer" star Jerry Harris will be in jail over charges of child pornography.

Netflix “Cheer” star Jerry Harris will reportedly remain in jail on child sexual abuse charges that he sexually harassed and demanded sexual photos from teenaged boys under a recent ruling by a federal judge.

According to the Chicago Tribune, U.S. District Court Judge Heather McShain found that Harris remained a danger to the community after allegedly admitting to sexual transgressions with up to ten minors. In addition, Harris allegedly got rid of a cell phone and obtained another to continue to harass victims.

Cheer Mom Supervision Not Enough

Lawyers for the Netflix star had tried to get home supervision for Harris, reportedly offering the services of several “cheer moms” who would supervise him and ensure he could not access the internet.

Judge McShain rejected the motion, saying the charges against Harris are “extremely serious.” In addition, the judge reportedly noted Harris’s attempt to allude detection with a new cell phone previously.

“Upon learning of the investigation, (Harris) dumped his cellphone, obtained a new cellphone and continued with his same course of conduct,” reportedly pointed out the judge in the hearing. “That reveals behavior that the defendant cannot or is unwilling to control.”

"Cheer" star Jerry Harris will stay in jail over child pornography charges.‘Cheer’ Star Allegedly Preyed on Fans at Competitions

Jerry Harris rose to stardom as a part of Navarro Colleges’ award-winning competitive cheer squad that was featured in a Netflix docuseries. The series was an unexpected hit in the early months of 2020 and Harris was even invited to the Oscar’s red carpet as a result.

However, in a few short months, Harris was charged with producing child pornography and the subject of an FBI investigation into claims he harassed minors at cheerleading events. He was reportedly taken into police custody in Chicago over allegations he sexually abused a 13-year-old.

In addition, the star faces a lawsuit filed by a pair of twins from Texas who say they faced months of harassment and abuse after meeting Harris at a cheerleading event. The twins reportedly allege that Harris was 19 at the time and showed interest in them, at the age of 13, when he found out they were gay.

USA Today reports that the Texas lawsuit accuses Harris of soliciting pornographic pictures from the boys as well as repeated solicitations for sex. The twin’s mother reportedly discovered sexually explicit images on their phones and reported the behavior to the national cheer organization, as well as others that are now named in their lawsuit.

Harris Says He Is a Victim

Lawyers for Harris reportedly argued that the star should be considered a child interacting with children because of his exposure to sexual predators when he was a minor in cheerleading.

“In the early years of Mr. Harris’ life, he was fully immersed into the ‘cheer’ world where sexual predators were largely unchecked with children of all ages,” said Harris’s motion, according to the Chicago Tribune.

However, Judge McShain rejected the argument, stating at the hearing, “The defendant was not a child. He was an adult,” at the time of the alleged sexual abuse, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Mother of Victims Says Harris Deserves Jail

Reportedly, the mother of the twins who have lodged a lawsuit in Texas against the “Cheer” star attended the hearing by phone. She says that her sons have paid a terrible price for telling their stories.

“Mr. Harris should not be residing in a home, sleeping in a comfortable bed, and being taken care of by a group of cheer moms while my children are paying a very high price for telling the truth,” said the victim’s mother at the hearing, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Reportedly, Harris will face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years if he is convicted on child pornography charges.

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Find out if you qualify for a free case evaluation with a sexual abuse lawyer by filling out the form on this page.

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