10 Worst Criminals in Deadliest Catch!

The Real-Life Criminal Cases Behind the Cast of “Deadliest Catch”

The choppy, unforgiving waters of the Bering Sea may pose a constant threat to the fishermen of Deadliest Catch, but it turns out the real danger often lies onshore. Behind the scenes of the hit Discovery Channel series, several cast members have found themselves facing legal battles far more serious than rogue waves or malfunctioning crab pots. From drug trafficking and sexual assault to violent robberies and shocking accusations, the criminal history of some of Deadliest Catch’s stars paints a far darker picture than what fans see on screen.

Jake Harris: A Life Unraveled

Jake Harris, the youngest son of the late and beloved Captain Phil Harris, has endured a public and painful descent into addiction and crime. Following his father’s death in 2010, Jake spiraled into drug use that would soon derail his life. By 2017, he was accused of a violent robbery after allegedly assaulting a woman on a date and stealing her vehicle.

The chaos didn’t end there. In 2019, Harris was arrested in Washington after leading police on a high-speed chase in a stolen RV. Methamphetamine and Xanax were found in the vehicle, resulting in charges of DUI and possession with intent to deliver. Although he claimed the drugs belonged to a female companion, Harris was sentenced to 18 months in prison. His legal troubles continued with another arrest in 2021, underscoring an ongoing battle with addiction and the law.

Josh Harris: From Fan Favorite to Fallout

Jake’s older brother, Josh Harris, was once seen as the more stable sibling—carrying on their father’s legacy aboard the Cornelia Marie. But in 2022, his past caught up with him. A disturbing police report from 1998 resurfaced, detailing inappropriate behavior with two young girls when Josh was a teenager. While no formal charges were filed due to the age of the incident and prior intervention, public backlash was swift and unforgiving.

Discovery Channel quickly severed ties with Harris, canceled his spin-off Deadliest Catch: Bloodline, and removed episodes in which he appeared. For many fans, it was a jarring fall from grace for one of the series’ most familiar faces.

Elliot Neese: From Captain to Convict

Known for his explosive temper on-screen, Elliot Neese’s off-screen battles were far more destructive. After leaving the show in Season 11 to seek help for substance abuse, Neese re-entered headlines in 2019 when he was arrested for drug trafficking. Authorities uncovered nearly 13 pounds of heroin, other controlled substances, and over $300,000 in cash in a storage unit linked to him.

Though the charges were severe, Neese received a relatively light sentence of 30 months in federal prison—a shocking outcome given the scale of the bust. His fall from respected captain to convicted felon remains one of the show’s most dramatic off-camera stories.

Sig Hansen: Legal Storms of a Veteran Captain

Sig Hansen, the long-time captain of the Northwestern, has also weathered his own legal troubles. In May 2017, he was arrested for misdemeanor assault in Seattle after an altercation with an Uber driver, allegedly spitting on the man and kicking his vehicle during a drunken dispute.

More troubling, however, are allegations made by his estranged daughter, Melissa Eckstrom. In 2025, a Washington state court ruled that her lawsuit accusing Hansen of sexually abusing her in 1990—when she was just two years old—could proceed under updated state laws allowing adult survivors of childhood abuse to sue. Hansen has denied the accusations, claiming extortion, and vowed to appeal. The case remains unresolved and continues to shadow his public image.

Edgar Hansen: A Guilty Plea in a Disturbing Case

Sig’s brother and fellow Northwestern crew member, Edgar Hansen, pleaded guilty in 2018 to fourth-degree assault with sexual motivation involving a 16-year-old girl. Under a plea deal, he avoided jail time but received a suspended sentence, court fines, and was required to undergo a sexual deviancy evaluation and treatment. Though he continued working aboard the Northwestern, his presence on the show was dramatically reduced, signaling Discovery’s effort to distance itself from the controversy.

Lesser-Known Crew, Serious Crimes

While the Hansen and Harris families draw the most attention, other crew members from the show have faced significant legal problems:

• Joshua Tel Warner, a greenhorn on the Wizard, committed multiple bank robberies and was sentenced to nine years in prison in 2009.

• Jason “Tennessee” King, a deckhand on the Cornelia Marie, was sentenced to over four years in federal prison after authorities found 14 pounds of marijuana and a loaded gun in his home.

• Jared Cry, a deckhand on the Kaution, struggled with heroin addiction and was repeatedly arrested between 2019 and 2022 for theft and drug possession.

• Eric James Brown, who briefly appeared in Season 19, has a long criminal record, including drug charges, domestic battery, and probation violations. His latest arrest occurred in March 2024.

 A Franchise Overshadowed by Off-Screen Chaos

Deadliest Catch remains one of Discovery Channel’s most iconic series, known for its portrayal of extreme danger and the relentless pursuit of survival at sea. Yet behind the scenes, many of its stars have fought darker, more destructive battles—ones not with the ocean, but with the law, addiction, and their own pasts.

As legal cases continue to unfold, the legacy of the show grows more complex. For many fans, the question is no longer just “Who will survive the next crab season?” but also: “Who will survive the consequences of their own actions?”