Reverend James Richard Harris of Belle Glade, Florida - he certainly was more creative than many a Catholic priest who simply preyed upon altar boys in the confines of the parish rectory and church sacristy - has been arrested for sexual improprieties with under age football players. Harris purportedly lured a number of local high school football players into sex after promising to advance their athletic dreams. In the process Harris also video taped teens engaging in sexual activity at his home. Harris, who is described as an activist and a former city commission candidate in a number of news articles and who has given invocations prior to city commission meetings, is now in jail without bail as the investigation continues. Here are some highlights from WPEC-TV 12:*
It's the sex scandal that has rocked the rural community of Belle Glade. A minister accused of luring high school football players into sex after promising to advance their athletic dreams. . . . The police report detailing the allegations against Reverend James Richard Harris indicates that Harris video taped teens engaging in sexual activity at his home. Many of those teens were, or are currently on the Glades Central football team. The report says that Harris would promise the teens help in achieving their football dreams, then in turn shoot video of them at his home performing different sex acts.
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According to some who live in Belle Glade, this behavior has gone on for decades. They say they have heard of similar allegations in the past, but that none of them could be proven with hard evidence. Authorities with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's office say they cannot tell how far back the allegations stretch, especially with a lack of complaints. Harris is currently being held at the Hillsborough County Jail without bond.
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