Jerry Harris, the star of the Netflix docuseries “Cheer,” has been indicted on additional charges of sexual solicitation of minors. He is already facing federal child pornography charges.
Harris was praised for his upbeat personality and encouraging “mat talk,” as seen in the Emmy-winning docuseries that follows his cheerleading team. He also landed a gig interviewing celebs on the red carpet at the Academy Awards for “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”
In the original complaint filed back in September, prosecutors say that 21-year-old Harris admitted to FBI agents that he had asked a teenage boy to send him sexual photographs of himself. He also admitted to asking for child pornography from at least 10 to 15 minors via Snapchat. Harris told the agents that he was aware that they were minors at the time. Prosecutors also claim Harris sexually assaulted a 15-year-old boy in a public bathroom during a cheer event.
It is alleged that Harris solicited sex from minors while away at cheerleading competitions in the new charges. He groomed teenage boys within his cheer community, convincing them to send him sexual pictures and videos of themselves.
He is being held in a federal detention facility without bond. In October, federal Judge Heather McShain said that Harris “presents a danger to the community” and refused to release him, despite several “Cheer” moms offering to watch over him if released and prevent him from getting on the internet.
“I find the defendant’s past conduct does suggest the likelihood of future misconduct,” McShain said.
Attorneys Morgan Stewart and Sarah Klein, who are representing two brothers who were victimized by Harris’ praised those who made sure that the man was unable to harm another child.
“This was made possible because our clients’ mother initially had the courage to report Harris to the FBI and provided evidentiary proof of the manipulation, sexual harassment, abuse, and exploitation that her sons had suffered,” their statement said.
