Hot Car Death: Evidence of Alleged Infidelity Admissible

MARIETTA, GA -- Evidence of alleged martial infidelity and other information can be used in the trial of a man accused of leaving his son to die in a hot car.

Late Monday, a Cobb County judge ruled the evidence is admissible in court in the case of Justin Ross Harris, who goes on trial next month on murder and cruelty to children charges in the 2014 death of his son, 22-month-old Cooper.

Harris' attorneys were seeking to have the evidence excluded, reports Channel 2 Action News. The information includes sexually explicit texts that Harris allegedly shared with several girls; research on the effects of weather on the human body; and Harris and his family's financial situation, among other items.

Ross is also facing charges related to sexual explicit messages with underage girls that were found on his phone as police were investigating his son's death.

The new charges include two counts of sexual exploitation of children and six counts of disseminating harmful material to a minor. The charges are related to sexual photos and chat messages between Harris and three underage girls.

In June 2014, Harris is accused of driving to work at a Home Depot corporate office, and leaving his son buckled in his child seat in the car for the entire work day.

The death received national attention due to Harris' claim that he forgot his son was in the car. Police have built a case around online searches regarding hot car deaths prior to Cooper's death.

Harris pleaded not guilty to all of the original eight counts against him in October. Harris has been held without bond since June 2014.

Reynolds announced in September that the state would not seek the death penalty against Harris if he is convicted.

Last month, Leanna Harris filed divorce papers from her husband.