Father speaks out about teen sex scandal

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.

And as the case unfolds, the father of one of the victims is speaking out publicly.

Due to the nature of the investigation and because the victims are all minors that have allegedly undergone sexual abuse, their names and that of their relatives will remain undisclosed.

One victim's father found out about the sexual abuse his son told police he suffered, after we at CBS 12 News showed him the police report. After reading the allegations, the Belle Glade father was left in tears at the thought that his son may have been subjected to sexual abuse.

"That's my son... And if I felt like I could get away with anything, I would do something to him... But I know I can't," said the victim's father.

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.

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.