Topline
Jerry Harris, a former cheerleader and fan favorite from the first season of the Netflix documentary series Cheer, pleaded guilty Thursday to child sex crimes as part of a deal with prosecutors, according to several news outlets, more than a year after his arrest.
Key Facts
Harris, 22, pleaded guilty in federal court to receiving child pornography and traveling across state lines to have sex with a minor, according to the New York Times and other outlets.
Prosecutors said Harris asked a 17-year-old to send him sexually explicit content for $3,000 in 2020, and traveled from Texas to Florida where he sexually assaulted a 15-year-old, according to the Times.
Harris initially pleaded not guilty to seven felony charges in December, but he pleaded guilty to two of the counts Thursday as part of a deal that stipulates the remaining charges will be dropped by prosecutors after his sentencing, the Times reported.
Harris pleaded guilty because he wants to “take responsibility” and “convey his remorse” for victims, Harris’ lawyers said in a statement distributed to the media Thursday, adding that he will “spend the rest of his life making amends.”
Sarah Klein, an attorney who represents the two teenage victims, on Thursday urged authorities to further investigate organizations Harris worked with that she said in a statement “could have stopped Harris’ abuse and failed to do so.”
Key Background
Harris rose to fame in early 2020 with the release of Cheer, which followed a competitive season for the Navarro College cheerleading squad in Corsicana, Texas. The series was a hit, and Harris was a breakout star. He was selected to interview celebrities on the Oscars red carpet for The Ellen Degeneres Show, and in 2020, he appeared in a video with then-presidential candidate Joe Biden encouraging the Black community to vote for the future president. Harris was arrested for producing child pornography in September 2020 and was sued by two teenage brothers who accused him of “sexual harassment, exploitation abuse and molestation. The allegations against Harris shocked Cheer fans, his teammates and the cheerleading world. An episode of Cheer’s second season, which premiered on Netflix last month, showed the fallout from Harris’ scandal and its effect on the Navarro cheer squad.
Further Reading
Jerry Harris Pleads Guilty to Sex Crimes Involving Minors (New York Times)
Jerry Harris, Netflix ‘Cheer’ Star, Arrested On Child Pornography Charge (Forbes)
Netflix’s ‘Cheer’ Stars Express Shock Over Teammate Jerry Harris’ Arrest On Child Porn Charges (Forbes)
