Jerry Harris, the 21 year old star of the Netflix docuseries Cheer, was arrested Thursday in Chicago and charged in federal court with production of child pornography, according to the Chicago Tribune. CNN reported that the complaint also accuses him of soliciting sexually explicit images from minors.
The arrest came after federal agents searched Jerry’s home in Naperville, Illinois. According to the complaint as described by news outlets, he allegedly sought explicit images from a minor on Snapchat in 2018.
The case follows a USA Today report in which two teenage brothers said they were harassed online and at cheer competitions. USA Today was given screenshots of messages the brothers said came from accounts linked to Jerry. Earlier in the week, two alleged victims also filed a civil lawsuit in Texas that names Jerry, the United States All Star Federation and Varsity Spirit.
Varsity, the cheer industry company, said it reported the allegations to authorities and barred Jerry from any affiliation with Varsity Brands. Varsity’s chief legal officer described the conduct as inappropriate sexual conduct in a letter reviewed by reporters.
Through a spokesperson, Jerry denied the accusations earlier in the week. The statement said the claims relate to a time when he was a teenager and that he expects the facts to come out once the investigation is complete.
A criminal complaint is an accusation, and Jerry is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Baller Alert will keep you posted as more is reported.
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