Cheer’s Jerry Harris Pleads Guilty in Sex Crimes Case

In the indictment, it was alleged that the acts took place between 2017 and 2020 in Florida, plus Corsicana, Texas—home of Navarro College, where Harris was a student and member of the cheerleading team, which was featured in Cheer—and his hometown of Naperville, Ill. near Chicago.

At the time, Harris pleaded not guilty to all charges. However, according to the criminal complaint, he did admit in a voluntary interview with authorities days before his arrest that he had exchanged sexually explicit photos online with at least 10 to 15 people he knew were minors, attempted to entice one of the twins—then 14 years old—to engage in a sexual act in a bathroom at a Texas cheerleading event, and also admitted to having sex with a 15-year-old at a 2019 cheer event.

Following his plea agreement on Thursday, the twins’ mother, Kristen, said in a statement through the family’s lawyer, “In an effort to put a stop to a serial predator and avert harm to other children, my sons took the brave step of speaking publicly about the sexual abuse they suffered at the hands of Jerry Harris. Harris’ admission of guilt today gives me hope that the pain and grief that my sons have suffered as a result of speaking up has not been in vain. I will continue my mission to hold Jerry Harris and his enablers fully accountable both in the courts of law and the court of public opinion.”