Instagram Jake and Josh Harris
When Deadliest Catch first premiered in 2005, fans were introduced to Captain Phil Harris, the owner of the crab fishing vessel the Cornelia Marie, and his two sons, Josh and Jake Harris.
In 2010, Captain Phil died after suffering from a pulmonary embolism. While Josh has continued to be an active presence on the show, Jake decided to leave Deadliest Catch in 2012. What do we know about his whereabouts today?
Read on for details.
He Was Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison in August 2019
In January 2019, Jake was arrested for driving under the influence and possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance, according to TMZ.
Harris had a “well-documented history with substance abuse” prior to the arrest– he had two DUIs and one reduced DUI, according to an affidavit obtained by Oxygen.com.
In August 2019, he was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
In a statement, Skagit County deputy prosecuting attorney Haley Sebens told Oxygen.com, “Skagit County prosecutor’s office strives to hold individuals accountable who threaten our community’s safety. The state is satisfied with the terms of this resolution and it’s hopeful that Mr. Harris take advantage of treatment opportunities following his release from prison.”
The police chase that led to Harris’ arrest began with a confrontation between the former fisherman and a park ranger in Washington’s Bayview State Park. Oxygen.com reports that Harris was stopped for “several infractions” and refused to hand over his identification on three separate occasions. He also declined to take a sobriety test.
Jake’s current whereabouts are unclear. Washington State’s Department of Corrections site does not reveal an incarcerated individual under the name of Jake Harris. It is possible he has been released since his 2019 sentencing.
Josh Said Jake Is “Going Through Issues”
In a 2013 interview with The Huffington Post, Josh said that Jake was “going through some issues.”
He added, “He’s lost in drugs still. Jake’s gotta take care of his own stuff right now. Deal with his own demons.”
Jake had previously admitted that his father’s death sent him down a dangerous path. When he opened up to Dr. Drew Pinsky in 2012, Jake said, “I got a big hole in my heart and tried to fill it up with everything that wasn’t good for it. It took me a while to realize what I really wanted out of life.”
He added, “It was definitely a big trip up, threw my world upside down, put me in a real sad place for a little bit, kind a made things worse before they got better.”
While Jake is serving time, Josh is busy as the rightful part-owner of the Cornelia Marie. The purchase took place in 2014, four years after Phil’s passing. Discovery writes, “Although he’s sharing the wheelhouse with Casey, Josh has assumed responsibility for the boat and the fulfillment of their quota and if he wants to keep the multi-million-dollar ship afloat and step out of the shadow of his late father, he’ll need to continue to learn and prove he has what it takes.”
This year, Josh is also starring in the Discovery spinoff series, Deadliest Catch: Bloodline, where he uses his father’s old fishing charts and maps to explore the Kona coast.
Deadliest Catch airs Tuesdays on Discovery Channel at 9 p.m. ET/PT and is followed by new episodes of Deadliest Catch: Bloodline.
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