A two-time Jeopardy champion is facing new allegations of sexually exploiting a minor, months after pleading guilty to felony secret peeping.
Philip Joseph “Joey” DeSena, who won twice on the quiz show in 2024, has been charged with 10 counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. North Carolina authorities allege that he possessed graphic child sexual abuse material.
What is Jeopardy Winner Philip Joseph “Joey” DeSena Accused Of?
According to an arrest warrant obtained by Oxygen, DeSena allegedly “unlawfully, willfully, and feloniously did duplicate material containing visual representation” of children.
Court documents describe one file, titled “football.mp4,” as depicting a girl believed to be between 7 and 11 years old nude from the waist down and touching her genitals with her hands and a pink highlighter. Another file allegedly showed a girl estimated to be 9 to 12 years old performing oral sex on an adult man, the documents state.
Authorities also said the material included three young girls in a bathtub, minors engaged in sexual acts with one another and children whose genitals were exposed.
The charges list Nov. 19, 2025, as the offense date.
DeSena was booked into the Wake County jail on Oct. 23 and remains held without bond, according to court records.
Jeopardy Winner Philip Joseph “Joey” DeSena Pleads Guilty to Secret Peeping
The latest case follows DeSena’s guilty plea to felony secret peeping in July. He received a suspended sentence and was placed on probation for 60 months, sentencing records show.
An earlier warrant obtained by Oxygen alleged that DeSena secretly installed cameras in the bathroom and bedroom of a beach rental property. Authorities said the devices were placed “with the intent to capture the image of another without their consent.”
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The victim was staying in Corolla, North Carolina, for a wedding when she discovered the cameras at the home, WAVY reported.
During the sentencing hearing, defense attorney John Parker Jr. described DeSena as a “full-time dad” who holds a physics degree and has worked with solar panels.
DeSena, who was also previously featured on the now-inactive YouTube channel ClanOfTheGrayWolf, told the court he was “deeply sorry” and did not expect to be forgiven, the outlet reported.
As part of his probation, DeSena was ordered to undergo a mental health assessment or evaluation.
Court records recommend that the evaluation be conducted by a psychiatrist or psychologist specializing in psychosexual treatment. The records call for sessions at least once a week during the first 12 months of probation, with the schedule afterward to be determined by the treating physician.
He was also prohibited from contacting or approaching the victim in the secret-peeping case.
Oxygen contacted DeSena’s attorney for comment on the new allegations but did not immediately receive a response.
DeSena won $46,698 after claiming two Jeopardy victories in November 2024. He later returned for the show’s Champions Wildcard Tournament, where he reached the semifinals.
Oxygen also contacted Jeopardy for comment and had not received an immediate response.