Former Jeopardy champion faces new jail charges in Raleigh
Philip DeSena, who won the show in 2024, was arrested in October on ten counts related to the possession of explicit media involving minors.
By John Price ·
Philip Joseph "Joey" DeSena was denied bond on Monday after his arrest in Wake County on Oct. 23. The 44 year old engineer from Raleigh now faces 10 counts of second degree sexual exploitation of a minor. Court records indicate the charges stem from his alleged possession of sexually explicit pictures and videos showing children.
This is DeSena's second arrest in less than a year. He was first taken into custody on Dec. 1, 2025, and charged with two counts of felony secret peeping. Those charges involved the alleged recording of a woman in a bedroom and bathroom. DeSena pleaded guilty to those charges on July 27, 2026. He received a sentence of 60 months of probation. The court also ordered 100 hours of community service and a mental health assessment. Records show the assessment must be completed by a psychiatrist or psychologist specializing in psychosexual treatment.
DeSena gained public attention in November 2024 when he won two separate episodes of Jeopardy!. He later participated in the Winter 2025 Champions Wildcard tournament in January. During his two winning streaks, he earned a total of $44,698.
He is currently held in the Wake County Jail. His next court appearance for the new sexual exploitation charges is set for Nov. 16.
Source: KCTV5
