Jerry Harris from ‘Cheer’ under FBI investigation
Court docs detail sick child-porn charges against ‘Cheer’ star Jerry Harris
https://pagesix.com/2020/09/17/court-docs-detail-child-porn-charges-against-jerry-harris/
September 17, 2020 | 7:00pm
Jerry Harris, the disgraced star of Netflix docuseries “Cheer,” admitted to authorities that he exchanged sexually explicit photos and videos with underage boys and repeatedly solicited them to hook up in person, according to a disturbing criminal complaint.
'Cheer' star Jerry Harris arrested, charged with producing child pornography: report
The allegations against Harris — arrested Thursday on federal child-pornography charges — are laid out in the 28-page complaint and illustrated by disturbing text and social-media exchanges.
“Do it naked and take a video and show me,” Harris, 21, allegedly wrote to one teen boy on Snapchat — punctuating the message with a winking emoji — in response to a photo of the youth performing a cheerleading position known as the needle.
Despite the boy telling him that he was just 13 years old, Harris also allegedly requested pictures of his “face … and booty” in a separate exchange, according to prosecutors at the US Attorney’s Office in Chicago.
The youth eventually relented to the advances, sending images of his private areas to Harris, who reciprocated with explicit images of his own, including one of him masturbating, authorities allege.
At a cheerleading camp held in February 2019, Harris allegedly tried to entice the boy into performing oral sex on him in a bathroom, but the youth refused, the complaint continues.
Harris is also accused of making similar overtures to the boy’s twin brother, including sending him a Snapchat message that read, “Would you ever want to ****[?]”
That teen told authorities that he interpreted the stars to mean “f–k” — and Harris admitted under questioning that that was his intent, the complaint states.
Harris is thus far charged with one count of producing child pornography, even though he allegedly “admitted to soliciting and receiving child pornography on Snapchat from at least between 10 to 15 other individuals he knew were minors,” according to the complaint.
19
Photos released in the criminal complaint against actor Jeremiah "Jerry" Harris.
US Attorney's Office
The complaint goes on to allege that Harris copped to engaging in anal and oral sex with a 15-year-old boy at a cheerleading event in 2019, and exchanging explicit photos with two 17-year-old boys — enticing one of them with money.
The alleged predatory behavior was uncovered when the mother of the twins discovered a text exchange in which Harris explained to one of her sons why he no longer followed him on Snapchat.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea that we be friends on snap,” Harris wrote, according to screenshots of the conversation. “I’m sorry for what I’ve done in the past.”
The screenshot shows Harris ended the conversation by telling the teen, “I love you too!” and sending a heart emoji.
Despite his own alleged admissions, reps for Harris have denied the twins’ claims.
Harris rose to fame for his role on “Cheer,” which follows the cheerleading squad from Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas.
The criminal charge comes just days after the boys’ family filed a $1 million civil suit in Texas court over the alleged abuse.
This article will be updated.
Jerry Harris from ‘Cheer’ charged with producing child pornography
Show Caption
Jerry Harris from ‘Cheer’ charged with producing child pornography
Celebrity cheerleader Jerry Harris has been arrested by the FBI and charged with producing child pornography for "allegedly enticing an underage boy to produce sexually explicit videos and photos of himself," according to the U.S. attorney's office.
Harris admitted to soliciting and receiving explicit messages on Snapchat from at least 10 to 15 other individuals he knew were minors, according to federal court records.
Harris, who experienced a meteoric rise to fame this year when he was featured in Netflix’s “Cheer” docuseries, has been under investigation by the FBI for soliciting photos and sex from minors, multiple sources told USA TODAY.
USA TODAY reported Monday that the criminal investigation is based on allegations brought by 14-year-old twin brothers. In interviews with USA TODAY, the boys described a pattern of harassment, both online and at cheer competitions, that started when they were 13 and Harris was 19. They said it continued for more than a year.
Harris, 21, could not immediately be reached for comment.
The FBI executed a search warrant at Harris’ Naperville, Illinois, home on Monday as part of the investigation. On Thursday, FBI special agent Siobhan Johnson said the agency was "conducting authorized law enforcement activity in Naperville, Illinois, and other Chicago suburbs this morning."
The arrest was first reported by the Chicago Tribune.
Kristen, the mother of the boys who have accused Harris of abuse, told USA TODAY she filed reports with the Fort Worth, Texas, police on July 10 and the FBI on Aug. 8. Her sons, Charlie and Sam, said they were 13 when they met Harris. USA TODAY agreed to withhold the family’s last name because the boys are minors and alleging abuse.
The family provided USA TODAY with screenshots from five text and social media conversations between the boys and accounts they say belong to Harris. Several of screenshots include messages explicitly requesting nude photos or sex. In one conversation on Snapchat, an account with the name “.jerry harris” responded to a photo of Charlie stretching his leg above his head.
“Do it naked and take a video and show me,” Harris replied privately, according to a screenshot provided to USA TODAY.
Harris is also accused of asking one of the brothers to have sex with him in 2019 at two cheerleading competitions.
Varsity, which runs those competitions, on Aug. 1 also reported the allegations to police in Florida and Texas, according to letters obtained by USA TODAY. In the letters, Varsity’s Chief Legal Officer Burton Brillhart said the company had learned of “inappropriate sexual conduct” allegations against Harris and had banned him “from having any affiliation with Varsity Brands or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, now and in the future.”
Kristen and the boys on Monday filed a lawsuit against Harris, Varsity, the U.S. All Star Federation and the Cheer Athletics gym at which Harris has cheered. In it, the family accuses Harris of sexual misconduct and the cheer organizations of negligence and failures to protect the boys from abuse. The lawsuit also claims Harris sexually exploited others in the cheer community.
"We are grateful that the U.S. Attorney and the FBI have taken swift action to protect children by investigating, arresting and charging Jerry Harris," Attorney Sarah Klein, who represents the family, said in a statement. "This was made possible because our clients’ mother had the courage to report Harris to the FBI as well as the Fort Worth Police Department and provided evidentiary proof of the manipulation, sexual harassment, abuse, and exploitation that her sons had suffered."
Harris, who grew up in Illinois and has cheered since he was a child, gained national prominence in January through “Cheer,” the docuseries that follows Texas’ Navarro College cheerleaders in their quest for a national title. Viewers were drawn to his lively personality and ability to remain positive despite personal challenges, including the loss of his mother to cancer.
In the months that followed, Harris met Oprah Winfrey, interviewed celebrities on the red carpet of the Oscars for the “Ellen DeGeneres Show” and filmed a short video with former Vice President Joe Biden. Harris’ Instagram page has 1.2 million followers.
If convicted, Harris faces up to 30 years in federal prison. The U.S. attorney's office encouraged others who may be "a victim of sexual exploitation by Jeremiah Harris" to contact the FBI at (312) 421-6700.
This article will be updated.
Tricia L. Nadolny and Marisa Kwiatkowski are reporters on USA TODAY’s national investigative team.Tricia can be reached tnadolny@usatoday.com or @TriciaNadolny. Marisa can be reached at mkwiatko@usatoday.com, @IndyMarisaK or by phone, Signal or WhatsApp at (317) 207-2855.
Court docs detail sick child-porn charges against ‘Cheer’ star Jerry Harris
https://pagesix.com/2020/09/17/court-docs-detail-child-porn-charges-against-jerry-harris/
September 17, 2020 | 7:00pm
Jerry Harris, the disgraced star of Netflix docuseries “Cheer,” admitted to authorities that he exchanged sexually explicit photos and videos with underage boys and repeatedly solicited them to hook up in person, according to a disturbing criminal complaint.
'Cheer' star Jerry Harris arrested, charged with producing child pornography: report
The allegations against Harris — arrested Thursday on federal child-pornography charges — are laid out in the 28-page complaint and illustrated by disturbing text and social-media exchanges.
“Do it naked and take a video and show me,” Harris, 21, allegedly wrote to one teen boy on Snapchat — punctuating the message with a winking emoji — in response to a photo of the youth performing a cheerleading position known as the needle.
Despite the boy telling him that he was just 13 years old, Harris also allegedly requested pictures of his “face … and booty” in a separate exchange, according to prosecutors at the US Attorney’s Office in Chicago.
The youth eventually relented to the advances, sending images of his private areas to Harris, who reciprocated with explicit images of his own, including one of him masturbating, authorities allege.
At a cheerleading camp held in February 2019, Harris allegedly tried to entice the boy into performing oral sex on him in a bathroom, but the youth refused, the complaint continues.
Harris is also accused of making similar overtures to the boy’s twin brother, including sending him a Snapchat message that read, “Would you ever want to ****[?]”
That teen told authorities that he interpreted the stars to mean “f–k” — and Harris admitted under questioning that that was his intent, the complaint states.
Harris is thus far charged with one count of producing child pornography, even though he allegedly “admitted to soliciting and receiving child pornography on Snapchat from at least between 10 to 15 other individuals he knew were minors,” according to the complaint.
19
Photos released in the criminal complaint against actor Jeremiah "Jerry" Harris.
US Attorney's Office
The complaint goes on to allege that Harris copped to engaging in anal and oral sex with a 15-year-old boy at a cheerleading event in 2019, and exchanging explicit photos with two 17-year-old boys — enticing one of them with money.
The alleged predatory behavior was uncovered when the mother of the twins discovered a text exchange in which Harris explained to one of her sons why he no longer followed him on Snapchat.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea that we be friends on snap,” Harris wrote, according to screenshots of the conversation. “I’m sorry for what I’ve done in the past.”
The screenshot shows Harris ended the conversation by telling the teen, “I love you too!” and sending a heart emoji.
Despite his own alleged admissions, reps for Harris have denied the twins’ claims.
Harris rose to fame for his role on “Cheer,” which follows the cheerleading squad from Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas.
The criminal charge comes just days after the boys’ family filed a $1 million civil suit in Texas court over the alleged abuse.
This article will be updated.
Jerry Harris from ‘Cheer’ charged with producing child pornography
Show Caption
Jerry Harris from ‘Cheer’ charged with producing child pornography
Celebrity cheerleader Jerry Harris has been arrested by the FBI and charged with producing child pornography for "allegedly enticing an underage boy to produce sexually explicit videos and photos of himself," according to the U.S. attorney's office.
Harris admitted to soliciting and receiving explicit messages on Snapchat from at least 10 to 15 other individuals he knew were minors, according to federal court records.
Harris, who experienced a meteoric rise to fame this year when he was featured in Netflix’s “Cheer” docuseries, has been under investigation by the FBI for soliciting photos and sex from minors, multiple sources told USA TODAY.
USA TODAY reported Monday that the criminal investigation is based on allegations brought by 14-year-old twin brothers. In interviews with USA TODAY, the boys described a pattern of harassment, both online and at cheer competitions, that started when they were 13 and Harris was 19. They said it continued for more than a year.
Harris, 21, could not immediately be reached for comment.
The FBI executed a search warrant at Harris’ Naperville, Illinois, home on Monday as part of the investigation. On Thursday, FBI special agent Siobhan Johnson said the agency was "conducting authorized law enforcement activity in Naperville, Illinois, and other Chicago suburbs this morning."
The arrest was first reported by the Chicago Tribune.
Kristen, the mother of the boys who have accused Harris of abuse, told USA TODAY she filed reports with the Fort Worth, Texas, police on July 10 and the FBI on Aug. 8. Her sons, Charlie and Sam, said they were 13 when they met Harris. USA TODAY agreed to withhold the family’s last name because the boys are minors and alleging abuse.
The family provided USA TODAY with screenshots from five text and social media conversations between the boys and accounts they say belong to Harris. Several of screenshots include messages explicitly requesting nude photos or sex. In one conversation on Snapchat, an account with the name “.jerry harris” responded to a photo of Charlie stretching his leg above his head.
“Do it naked and take a video and show me,” Harris replied privately, according to a screenshot provided to USA TODAY.
Harris is also accused of asking one of the brothers to have sex with him in 2019 at two cheerleading competitions.
Varsity, which runs those competitions, on Aug. 1 also reported the allegations to police in Florida and Texas, according to letters obtained by USA TODAY. In the letters, Varsity’s Chief Legal Officer Burton Brillhart said the company had learned of “inappropriate sexual conduct” allegations against Harris and had banned him “from having any affiliation with Varsity Brands or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, now and in the future.”
Kristen and the boys on Monday filed a lawsuit against Harris, Varsity, the U.S. All Star Federation and the Cheer Athletics gym at which Harris has cheered. In it, the family accuses Harris of sexual misconduct and the cheer organizations of negligence and failures to protect the boys from abuse. The lawsuit also claims Harris sexually exploited others in the cheer community.
"We are grateful that the U.S. Attorney and the FBI have taken swift action to protect children by investigating, arresting and charging Jerry Harris," Attorney Sarah Klein, who represents the family, said in a statement. "This was made possible because our clients’ mother had the courage to report Harris to the FBI as well as the Fort Worth Police Department and provided evidentiary proof of the manipulation, sexual harassment, abuse, and exploitation that her sons had suffered."
Harris, who grew up in Illinois and has cheered since he was a child, gained national prominence in January through “Cheer,” the docuseries that follows Texas’ Navarro College cheerleaders in their quest for a national title. Viewers were drawn to his lively personality and ability to remain positive despite personal challenges, including the loss of his mother to cancer.
In the months that followed, Harris met Oprah Winfrey, interviewed celebrities on the red carpet of the Oscars for the “Ellen DeGeneres Show” and filmed a short video with former Vice President Joe Biden. Harris’ Instagram page has 1.2 million followers.
If convicted, Harris faces up to 30 years in federal prison. The U.S. attorney's office encouraged others who may be "a victim of sexual exploitation by Jeremiah Harris" to contact the FBI at (312) 421-6700.
This article will be updated.
Tricia L. Nadolny and Marisa Kwiatkowski are reporters on USA TODAY’s national investigative team.Tricia can be reached tnadolny@usatoday.com or @TriciaNadolny. Marisa can be reached at mkwiatko@usatoday.com, @IndyMarisaK or by phone, Signal or WhatsApp at (317) 207-2855.
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