Justin Ross Harris was indicted Thursday on eight charges involving under-age girls. The indictment consists of two counts of sexual exploitation of children and six counts of disseminating harmful material to a minor. It is alleged Harris was in possession of lewd photos of two minor girls, sent nude photos to three girls including those two, and had explicit sexual conversations with all three.
These charges arose as part of the investigation into the death of Harris’s 22-month-old son Cooper during the summer of 2014.
As Digital Journal reported in 2014, Harris drove to a restaurant for breakfast in Marietta, Georgia before heading to Home Depot where he worked. He had his 22-month-old son in a rear-facing child seat in the back of the car. Cooper was supposed to be dropped off at daycare but was left in the car.
Harris finished work at 4 p.m. and drove to a nearby shopping centre where he asked for help for his son. But Cooper was pronounced dead at the scene. At first it was thought this was just another tragic case where a child was unintentionally left behind in a car on a sweltering day.
Police became suspicious after Harris refused to cooperate with them and made inconsistent statements. Further investigation revealed Harris had gone to put something in his car while on his lunch break that day, giving him another opportunity to find Cooper. And it was alleged the dad had done computer searches to find out how long it takes an animal to die in a hot car. Harris was subsequently charged with murder and cruelty to children.
The new charges arose out of a further investigation into Cooper’s death. WSB TV reports at pre-trial hearings regarding the murder charges, prosecutors alleged sexually explicit messages were sent to several women and girls; one having been sent on the morning of Cooper’s death. While Harris’s lawyer attempted to keep this evidence out, a judge ruled it was admissible. It supports the prosecution theory Cooper’s death was part of Harris’s plan to begin a new life.
Harris’s attorneys released a statement saying these new charges had been known to prosecutors for some time and their client is being charged now on the eve of jury selection in order to inflame the public. They also stated these charges have nothing to do with Cooper’s death.
Cobb County District Attorney, Vic Reynolds, also released a statement. He said the charges arose now due to advances in electronic forensic analysis and new witnesses coming forward. The DA added if he waited, some of the charges would be barred by statute.
The murder trial is scheduled to begin on April 11 and the charges involving under-age girls will be tried at a different time.
