Netflix’s “Cheer” star Jerry Harris is facing new federal charges for allegedly encouraging minors to engage in sexual activity and soliciting sexually explicit photos.
Harris was indicted on seven counts, including child pornography and sex crimes, which allegedly involved four victims in Illinois, Florida and Texas. The indictment was publicly released on Friday, Chicago Sun Times reported.
According to the indictment obtained by CNN, charges are for actions that allegedly took place from August 2017 to August of this year. One charge also alleged that Harris made a trip from Texas to Florida in May 2019 to have sex with a 15-year-old.
The “Cheer” star, 21, was arrested in September on a federal child pornography charge after allegedly “enticing an underage boy to produce sexually explicit photos and video of himself.”
Harris admitted that he did ask for sexually explicit photos of the 13-year-old.
The new charges came as a result of the FBI further investigating Harris after the mother of one of his alleged victims provided proof of exploitation, CNN reported.
“We are grateful that the U.S. Attorney and the FBI have continued to investigate this case, locate additional victims and take action,” attorneys Morgan Stewart and Sarah Klein said in a statement
A federal judge ruled in October of this year that Harris must remain behind bars until his trial date, citing that he is a danger to the community.
“There is clear and convincing evidence that the defendant would be a danger to the community if released,” she said at the time.
Harris faces a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison.