Jerry Harris, one of many breakout stars of the Netflix docuseries “Cheer,” was sentenced Wednesday to 12 years in prison on federal prices involving child sexual abuse images.
Harris, 22, was indicted on seven counts of receiving and trying to obtain child pornography and of persuading minors to have interaction in sexual contact from August 2017 to August 2020. Prosecutors stated the acts concerned victims in Texas, Florida and Illinois.
His was sentenced to 12 years in prison, to be adopted by 8 years of court-supervised launch, Joseph D. Fitzpatrick, assistant U.S. legal professional for the Northern District of Illinois, confirmed to NBC News.
Prosecutors had sought a 15-year sentence for Harris, writing in a sentencing memorandum that he used “his status as a competitive cheerleader, his social media persona, and eventually his celebrity and money” to influence underage boys into sending sexually express content material.
Harris, who promoted himself as a “mentor who could be trusted,” would stress his victims and supply to pay them in trade for sexual conduct and favors, prosecutors stated. When that didn’t work, he “threatened to disseminate the videos they had sent if they refused to continue,” in line with the sentencing memorandum.
Prosecutors stated Harris’ conduct endured till his arrest in September 2020.
Attorneys for Harris argued that their shopper skilled sexual assault as a child and due to this fact had a “skewed version of what he understood to be appropriate relationships,” court docket paperwork acknowledged. They requested for six years in prison.
The former cheerleader and tv star initially pleaded not responsible to the costs however modified it in February to plead responsible to 2 of the counts in the indictment, receiving child pornography and fascinating in interstate journey for the aim of partaking in a sexual act with a minor.
Two of the victims are twin brothers. One of the boys advised police that Harris solicited oral sex from him in a rest room throughout a cheerleading occasion they each attended, in line with a criticism. Harris was additionally accused of contacting the boy on Instagram in 2018 when Harris was 19 and the boy was 13, the criticism stated.
The criticism additional alleges that one of many boys stated he despatched Harris nude photos on Snapchat at Harris’ request and communicated with Harris on FaceTime, the place Harris requested the boy to reveal himself.
One brother advised investigators that Harris was “touchy” and did “odd things” to him and his sibling, in line with the criticism. He stated Harris would ask for nude photos from him and when the boy refused, Harris would turn into “pushy,” the criticism stated.
The brothers shared their story on the second season of “Cheer,” saying that they had been initially fearful about talking up due to Harris’ superstar and the way it could have an effect on their standing in the cheer group.
Sarah Klein, legal professional for the brothers, recommended the teenage boys for his or her “tremendous courage” and sacrifice in a press release following Harris’ sentencing.
“Jerry Harris’ guilt has been firmly established,” Klein stated. “The sentence he received reflects the severity of his crimes and the lifetime of pain his victims will suffer.”
The boys gave sufferer statements earlier than the sentencing, and one of many brothers remarked on mourning his misplaced freedom and childhood.
“I had to quit cheering at my old gym because people there disagreed with me and my family because of deciding to speak out,” he said. “The only true community I had at that time I felt like I had was taken away from me for doing the right thing.”
Another victim, who was 17, told investigators that Harris was “relentless” in soliciting pictures from him on Snapchat, according to the complaint. The boy said he turned Harris down repeatedly until Harris offered to pay him.
Harris allegedly admitted to investigators during a voluntary interview to having sent and receiving nude images and to having texted the brothers, according to the complaint. He also told investigators that he had solicited and received nude pictures from 10 to 15 other minors and had oral and anal sex with a 15-year-old, the complaint said.
Harris appeared on the docuseries “Cheer,” which follows a Texas cheerleading group at Navarro College. Season 2 of the sequence addressed the allegations towards Harris.
