Deadliest Catch Severs Ties With Josh Harris Amid Alarming Allegations

As the seasons of Discovery's "Deadliest Catch" have gone on, viewers have seen different deckhands and captains rotate in and out of the spotlight. However, Josh Harris is one of the few that has remained a seemingly permanent fixture in the series. But allegations of sexual assault coming to light have now ended Harris' "Deadliest Catch" tenure.

Factz reports that Harris was accused of sexually assaulting a 4-year-old girl back in 1998 when he himself was 15 or 16 years old. Without laying out the graphic details of the assault, the unnamed child was the daughter of a deckhand and neighbor. The report goes on to say that due to a delay in DNA processing, Harris wasn't arrested until 1999, when he eventually pled to a lesser charge: assault 4 and immoral communication with a minor.

It appears currently unknown why it took more than 20 years for these awful allegations to come out, but Discovery is surely not letting time heal all wounds. The cable channel's representative plainly told RadarOnline, "We've been made aware of this issue. Josh will not appear in future episodes of the series." Besides the flagship show, Harris is also starring in the spinoff series "Deadliest Catch: Bloodline," and it's safe to assume that his current expulsion will expand to that one, as well.

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).