‘Cheer’ star Jerry Harris pleads not guilty to child porn, sex charges

NAPERVILLE, Ill. —  “Cheer” star Jerry Harris has pleaded not guilty to federal child pornography charges and allegations that he solicited sex from minors at cheerleading competitions and that he persuaded teenage boys to send him obscene photographs and videos of themselves.

Harris, 21, of Naperville was indicted earlier this month on seven counts that include the child sex and porn charges. A complaint filed in September initially charged him with child pornography.

In the original complaint, prosecutors said Harris admitted to FBI agents that he asked a teenage boy to send lewd photographs of himself, and that he requested child pornography from at least 10 to 15 others he knew to be minors via Snapchat.

Two of Harris’ alleged victims, who are teenage brothers, have sued Harris in Texas.

Harris entered his not guilty plea to all seven counts on Dec. 17 during an arraignment hearing held by telephone, court records show.

The Associated Press on Wednesday left a message seeking comment from Harris’ Chicago attorney, Todd Pugh.

Harris remains held without bond at a federal detention facility in Chicago. He has been held there since his September arrest.

Harris was the breakout star of the Emmy-winning docuseries that follows a cheerleading team from Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas.