Jerry Harris, the 22-year-old breakout star of the first season of Netflix's hit cheerleading docuseries Cheer, has been sentenced to serve 12 years in prison after being found guilty of sexual assault and coercion involving teenage boys. Harris had a history of soliciting sexually explicit pictures and videos from teens dating back to December 2018, and faced a string of charges in different states for his actions at cheerleading competitions and over social media.
The charges first became public in September 2020, while the show's second season was being filmed. Harris was initially arrested on child p*rnography charges, and later sued by brothers who were underage when Harris began asking them for explicit pictures. He has remained in a Chicago prison since the initial arrest.
Harris agreed to a deal which involved pleading guilty to two of seven counts, including paying a 17-year-old to send him sexually explicit photos, and traveled to Florida to “engage in illicit sexual conduct” with a 15-year-old. In 2020, he voluntarily told law enforcement that he had swapped inappropriate photos with upwards of ten to fifteen minors on Snapchat, and had sex with a 15-year-old at a 2019 competition.
Cheer, which debuted in January 2020, follows the Navarro College Cheer Team in Central Texas, and Harris instantly became a fan favorite. In February, The Ellen Show recruited him to be its red-carpet interviewer at the Oscars, where he gabbed with everyone from Scarlett Johansson to Brad Pitt. However, that all ended in September of 2020, when USA Today broke the news of an ongoing FBI investigation of his sexual interactions with minors.
The second season of Cheer premiered in January 2022, and the first episode incorporated news clips covering the accusations against Harris. "Jerry," the fifth episode, featured interviews with teammates and coaches about Harris, in addition to interviews with two of the earliest victims to come forward.
As part of his plea, Harris’ jail time will be followed by another eight years of supervised release. The 12-year sentence is shorter than the 15 years the prosecution sought, but considerably more than the six-year sentence Harris’ lawyer requested.
I am a legal expert with a profound understanding of criminal law and court procedures, which enables me to shed light on the recent legal developments involving Jerry Harris, the breakout star from Netflix's Cheer. My expertise is grounded in my extensive knowledge of criminal cases, legal proceedings, and the application of relevant laws.
Now, delving into the details of the article, Jerry Harris, at the age of 22, has been sentenced to serve 12 years in prison after being found guilty of sexual assault and coercion involving teenage boys. The charges against him stem from a history of soliciting sexually explicit pictures and videos from teens dating back to December 2018. Notably, the charges first became public in September 2020, while the second season of Cheer was being filmed.
Harris faced a series of charges in different states for his actions at cheerleading competitions and over social media. Initially arrested on child p*rnography charges, he later agreed to a deal that involved pleading guilty to two of seven counts. This included paying a 17-year-old to send him sexually explicit photos and traveling to Florida to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a 15-year-old.
The article highlights that Harris voluntarily disclosed to law enforcement in 2020 that he had exchanged inappropriate photos with ten to fifteen minors on Snapchat and engaged in sexual activity with a 15-year-old at a 2019 competition. These admissions were crucial aspects of the legal proceedings and likely influenced the final sentencing.
The Netflix docuseries Cheer, which premiered in January 2020, follows the Navarro College Cheer Team in Central Texas. Harris quickly became a fan favorite, earning him opportunities such as being the red-carpet interviewer at the Oscars in February. However, his fall from grace occurred in September 2020 when USA Today reported on an ongoing FBI investigation into his sexual interactions with minors.
The second season of Cheer, which premiered in January 2022, addressed the accusations against Harris. The first episode incorporated news clips covering the allegations, and the fifth episode, titled "Jerry," featured interviews with teammates, coaches, and two of the earliest victims who came forward.
As part of the plea deal, Harris will serve 12 years in prison, followed by eight years of supervised release. The sentence is shorter than the 15 years sought by the prosecution but significantly longer than the six years requested by Harris' lawyer. This case serves as a stark reminder of the legal consequences individuals may face for engaging in illegal and harmful activities, even those in the public eye.
