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'Cheer' Star Arrested On Child Porn Charge After Allegedly Soliciting Explicit Pics From 13-Year-Old
Jeremiah “Jerry” Harris allegedly harassed underage twin boy cheerleaders for inappropriate pictures, videos, and sexual encounters.
“Cheer” star Jerry Harris has been arrested following claims that he sexually harassed and solicited sex from a 13-year-old boy.
Jeremiah “Jerry” Harris, 21, was arrested Thursday “on a federal child pornography charge for allegedly enticing an underage boy to produce sexually explicit videos and photos of himself,” a press release from an Illinois division of the U.S. Attorney's office stated. The victim informed Harris he was 13 years old during "their initial online encounter."
The boy is one of two twins, now 14, who have come forward to accuse Harris of sexual harassment and solicitation, according to a criminal complaint filed Thursday. The boys are both competitive cheerleaders.
One of the siblings claimed he sent Harris over a dozen sexual photographs and videos upon the star's request from late 2018 to March 2020, according to the complaint. In one instance, after observing the boy doing a flexible cheerleading position, Harris allegedly asked him to “do it naked take a video and show me.”
The boy also claimed that Harris solicited oral sex from him in a bathroom at a cheerleading event and that he attempted another sexual encounter at another cheer competition.
That child’s twin told investigators that Harris also requested "nude pictures" from him. He claimed that Harris would get "pushy" when he wouldn't send him photos, and that the star wanted to meet up for a sexual encounter.
Harris allegedly admitted this week to asking one of the boys for pictures over Snapchat, according to investigators.
The siblings’ claims went viral this week after they spoke out in a USA Today report on Monday, in which they identified themselves as Charlie and Sam. Their family filed a lawsuit on Monday against Harris and cheer-related organizations. The twins' mother claimed she made complaints about Harris but said they were basically ignored until Monday when the allegations went public.
Harris is being charged with one count of producing child pornography. It’s not clear if he has an attorney who can speak on his behalf.
Investigators are urging any other potential victims of sexual exploitation by Harris to call the FBI Chicago Field Office at (312) 421-6700.
