Judge says she will rule ‘ quickly’ on bid by ‘ Cheer’ star to get out of jail
The mother of two boys allegedly targeted for sexual advances by “Cheer” star Jerry Harris asked a federal judge Wednesday to keep Harris behind bars to “send a message that the allegations made by my sons … are being taken very seriously.”
But U. S. Magistrate Judge Heather McShain also heard during a lengthy hearing from four women who promised to monitor Harris should he be released from jail. One told McShain that if the Netflix docuseries star doesn’t follow the rules, “we will not stand by his side” — prompting Harris to nod approvingly from his seat nearby.
McShain then promised to rule “quickly” on whether Harris should be released from Chicago’s downtown Metropolitan Correctional Center, where he has been held since his arrest by the FBI last month on a production of child pornography charge.
Federal prosecutors say Harris sexually assaulted a 15- year- old boy in a public bathroom and should remain in jail. The feds also say Harris, 21, tried to persuade another minor to engage in oral sex with him at cheerleading events, solicited a third minor for sex and sought and received child pornography on Snapchat from 10 to 15 others he knew were underage.
They have also hinted that more charges could be coming.
Defense attorney Todd Pugh asked that Harris be allowed out of jail on house arrest, monitored by four third- party custodians but given no internet access. Though it was unclear which way McShain was leaning by the end of the hearing, she did tell Pugh that, “it’s not out of the realm of possibility that he could get his hands on a phone.”
Harris appeared in- person for Wednesday’s hearing in a 17th floor courtroom at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse. He wore an orange jumpsuit and a white face mask, and his legs appeared to be shackled. At one point, he looked toward two women seated in the gallery and used his hands to make the shape of a heart. The two women, along with two others who spoke to the judge by phone, agreed to serve as third- party custodians if Harris is released. They were identified in court only by their first names.
McShain also heard by phone from the mother of 14- year- old twin boys whose discovery in February of suspicious messages on one of boy’s cellphone appeared to lead to the charges against Harris. She told McShain that she repeatedly tried to alert law enforcement, but it wasn’t until she filled out an FBI form online that “finally, somebody started taking me seriously.”
She said “it broke my heart when I learned that my family isn’t the only one living this nightmare” and alleged that Harris victimized other children after she tried to report him to authorities.
“Please just protect my children and the other young people who have been affected by this man,” she said.