Former 'Cheer' star Jerry Harris should spend 15 years in prison in child sex abuse case, prosecutors say

• Prosecutors are seeking a 15-year sentence for former "Cheer" star Jerry Harris.
• Harris pleaded guilty to charges of child pornography and exploitation earlier this year.

Prosecutors are seeking a 15-year sentence for former "Cheer" star Jerry Harris in a child sex abuse case in which he pleaded guilty earlier this year.

"Jeremiah Harris used what he had at his disposal — his status as a competitive cheerleader, his social media persona, and eventually his celebrity and money, to persuade and entice his young victims to engage in sexually explicit conduct for him or with him," the sentencing memo, filed on Wednesday, said.

The charges against Harris could carry a weight of up to 50 years behind bars, the Chicago Tribune reported. However, in the sentencing memo, Assistant US Attorney Kelly Guzman pointed to Harris' difficult childhood as a reason for the lighter recommendation.

"Harris's childhood included periods of poverty and homelessness; he was young at the time he committed these horrific offenses; and due to his childhood full of setbacks and developmental delays, he was far less mature than his age at the time of the offenses," Guzman wrote.

In another filing, Harris' lawyers said the former reality television star is "profoundly remorseful" of his actions, and they believe a 6-year sentence would be sufficient.

Harris pleaded guilty in February to receiving child pornography and to traveling with intent to engage in "illicit sexual conduct," according to court documents. Prosecutors said in September 2020 that Harris was accused of enticing an underage boy to produce sexually explicit videos and photos of himself.

His sentencing is scheduled for July 6, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Lawyers for Harris did not immediately respond to requests for comment.