Former ‘Cheer’ Star Jerry Harris Pays $45,000 Following Child Pornography Case Judgment
Jerry Harris, the former star of Netflix’s “Cheer,” has made a significant financial payment while serving his prison sentence. Court documents obtained by TMZ reveal that Harris has paid $45,200 toward his legal obligations. This amount includes approximately $35,000 to the AVAA Crime Victims Fund and $10,000 to the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act Fund.
Harris, convicted of receiving child pornography and traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, drew attention to serious issues of child exploitation within the cheerleading community. He was also ordered to pay over $135,000 in restitution to his victims, though it is unclear if he has made this payment.
Federal investigators began their probe into Harris in 2019, uncovering that he was soliciting sex from minors at cheer competitions and coercing teenage boys to send inappropriate photos. In 2022, Harris pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. Although prosecutors recommended a 15-year sentence, the judge imposed a 12-year term.
Monica Aldama, Harris’s cheerleading coach, expressed her shock at the time, emphasizing the need to protect children from abuse and exploitation. Recently, Aldama’s own son faced charges for possessing child pornography earlier this year.