Joey DeSena, a two-time Jeopardy! winner, has been arrested in North Carolina on allegations involving child sexual abuse material, nearly a year after facing separate charges accusing him of secretly filming a woman in a bedroom and bathroom.
DeSena, 44, was taken into custody Friday in Wake County and charged with 10 counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. An arrest warrant obtained by News Media alleges that investigators found sexually explicit images and videos involving children in his possession.
A judge denied DeSena bond and he was booked into the Wake County Jail. During the hearing, the judge noted that the alleged possession occurred while DeSena was on probation in connection with a previous criminal case.
DeSena’s earlier arrest came in December 2025, when authorities accused him of recording a woman inside a bedroom and bathroom without her knowledge.
Joey DeSena, 44, remained jailed without bond after his latest arrest. A judge said he allegedly possessed child sexual abuse material while serving probation for a prior secret peeping conviction. (Wake County Bureau of Forensic Services)
On July 27, 2026, DeSena pleaded guilty to two felony counts of secret peeping. He received a 60-month probation sentence.
DeSena won two games of Jeopardy! in November 2024 and collected slightly more than $44,000 in prize money. He later returned for the show’s Champions Wildcard tournament in January 2025, but his run ended in the semifinals. (Amanda Edwards/Getty Images)
As part of that sentence, the court ordered him to perform 100 hours of community service and undergo a mental health assessment or evaluation.
Former two-time Jeopardy! champion Joey DeSena, 44, is facing 10 counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor in North Carolina after authorities allegedly found child sexual abuse material in his possession. (Wake County Bureau of Forensic Services)
DeSena’s television success came in November 2024, when he won two consecutive Jeopardy! episodes and earned more than $44,000. He competed again in the Champions Wildcard event in January 2025, advancing to the semifinals before being eliminated.
DeSena is scheduled to appear in court next on Nov. 16.