Jerry Harris (cheerleader)

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Jerry Harris
Born Jeremiah Harris
(1999-07-14) July 14, 1999 (age 25)
Hinsdale, Illinois, U.S.
Alma mater Navarro College
Years active 2020-2022

Jeremiah Harris (born July 14, 1999) is an American former cheerleader and convicted felon who received national recognition after appearing in the 2020 Netflix docuseries Cheer.[1] In September and December 2020, he was charged by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) with production of child pornography and other child-related sex crimes: "sexual exploitation of children, receiving child pornography, traveling with the attempt to engage in sexual conduct with a minor, enticement and other charges.[2] On February 10, 2022, Harris pled guilty as charged to two of the seven indictments against him.[3] On July 6, 2022, Harris was sentenced to 12 years in prison, and 8 years of court supervised probation to commence after his release from prison.[4]

Early life and education

Harris was born in Hinsdale, Illinois and raised in Bolingbrook, Illinois.[5] When he was 16 years old, his mother died from lung cancer.[6][7] He attended Waubonsie Valley High School[8] followed by Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas, where he was a member of the cheerleader team coached by Monica Aldama.[9] During the finale of Cheer, he received a Regional Scholars Award from the University of Louisville. He attended the school for the fall semester, but ultimately returned to Navarro College.[10][11] He became famous for his eccentric personality.[12]

Career

In January 2020, he appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, along with other members of the Cheer team.[13][14][15] In February 2020, DeGeneres announced that Harris would be The Ellen DeGeneres Show's Oscars correspondent.[16][17][18][19] He is known for his eccentric and over-the-top "mat talk," a cheerleading term, in which he yells and cheers on other people.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, he made a guest appearance on the cheerleading themed song "Mas(k)ot" by Todrick Hall from his album Quarantine Queen.[20]

2020 arrest

In September 2020, the FBI announced they had a warrant for Harris for allegedly soliciting sex from minors.[21] The case involves twin brothers who were 13 when Harris, 19 at the time, allegedly sent suggestive messages asking for pictures and seeking sex.[21] The boys' mother at first dismissed the contacts, but after another cheerleading coach allegedly assaulted them, felt there might be a pervasive atmosphere of tolerance of sexual abuse either in the sport or the companies that govern them.[21] United States All Star Federation, Varsity Spirit and Cheer Athletics were later named as parties to the legal proceedings.[22]

On September 17, 2020, Harris was arrested by the FBI and charged in federal court in Chicago for production of child pornography.[22] Harris allegedly admitted to soliciting and receiving explicit messages on Snapchat from other individuals he knew were minors; he also allegedly admitted to having sex with a 15-year-old in mid-2019 when Harris was 19, according to federal court records.[23] Harris was suspended from at least one company, and faced the loss of several sponsorships.[21] A spokesperson for Harris denied the allegations, "We categorically dispute the claims made against Jerry Harris, which are alleged to have occurred when he was a teenager. We are confident that when the investigation is completed the true facts will be revealed."[24] Harris's cheer coach Monica Aldama posted on Instagram that she was devastated by the news of his arrest.[25]

In a statement about his arrest, Netflix said "Like everyone we are shocked by this news. Any abuse of minors is a terrible crime and we respect the legal process."[26]

On December 12, 2020, it was reported that Harris faced an additional seven charges involving incidents with four other minors from August 2017 to August 2020, including a charge involving an alleged incident where Harris traveled from Texas to Florida to have sex with a 15-year-old in May 2019.[27][28] Harris pleaded not guilty to the new charges.[29]

On February 10, 2022, Harris pleaded guilty to allegations of child sex abuse.[30] He was obtaining photos of child sexual abuse and soliciting sex from minors. Harris was held without bond in a federal detention center and was set to be sentenced on June 28, 2022. Harris was sentenced to 12 years in prison, followed by eight years of court-supervised probation on July 6, 2022. [31]

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.lLua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

Retrieved from "https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Jerry_Harris_(cheerleader)&oldid=726472087"