Deadliest Catch Star Edgar Hansen Pleads Guilty to Sexual Assault

The once fan-favorite crew member disappeared from the show after a 2018 incident in Florida.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Edgar Hansen, a longtime crew member on the hit reality TV series Deadliest Catch, pleaded guilty in 2018 to sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl in Sarasota, Florida. As a result, Hansen was sentenced to a 364-day suspended jail sentence and fines, and he disappeared from the show shortly after. Fans have since spotted him blurred out in the background of some episodes, suggesting he may still work on the family's fishing vessel, the Northwestern.

Why it matters

The scandal surrounding Edgar Hansen's guilty plea for sexual assault was a major blow to the Deadliest Catch franchise, which has faced other controversies over the years involving drug use, medical negligence, and criminal pasts among its cast members. Hansen's disappearance from the show highlighted the real-world consequences that can impact reality TV productions and the need for greater scrutiny of cast members' off-screen behavior.

The details

In 2018, Edgar Hansen pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl in Sarasota, Florida. As part of his plea deal, he was sentenced to a 364-day suspended jail sentence and ordered to pay $1,653 in fines and fees. He also had to undergo a sexual deviancy evaluation. Despite not serving any jail time, the incident led to Hansen's departure from Deadliest Catch, where he had been a crew member on the family's fishing vessel, the Northwestern, for nearly three decades.

  • In August 2018, Edgar Hansen made his last appearance on Deadliest Catch.
  • In 2018, Hansen pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl in Sarasota, Florida.

The players

Edgar Hansen

A longtime crew member on the Deadliest Catch reality TV series who pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl in 2018, leading to his departure from the show.

Sig Hansen

The captain of the fishing vessel Northwestern and Edgar Hansen's brother, who has been a prominent face on Deadliest Catch since the show's inception.

Mandy Hansen

Sig Hansen's daughter, who has emerged as a leading player on Deadliest Catch following Edgar Hansen's departure from the show.

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What they’re saying

“I committed this assault for the purpose of my own sexual gratification. I am very sorry for that conduct, and I have commenced treatment to ensure that nothing like this assault ever happens again.”

— Edgar Hansen (Seattle Times)

What’s next

The Reddit community has speculated that Edgar Hansen may still be working on the Northwestern, with some viewers claiming to have spotted him blurred out in the background of recent episodes.

The takeaway

The scandal surrounding Edgar Hansen's sexual assault conviction highlights the real-world consequences that can impact reality TV productions and the need for greater scrutiny of cast members' off-screen behavior. As Deadliest Catch continues, the show will likely face ongoing challenges in balancing the drama of its high-stakes fishing operations with the personal lives and controversies of its crew.