Philip DeSena, 44, won two episodes of Jeopardy! in November 2024. On Friday, Oct. 23, he was arrested in Wake County, North Carolina, on 10 counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.
The Raleigh engineer was already on probation. Court records allege he possessed and duplicated 10 digital files showing the sexual exploitation of minors, and that they included images and videos of children from about 7 to 15 years old. An arrest warrant says the charges stem from his alleged possession of sexually explicit pictures and videos of children.
A Wake County magistrate ordered him held without bond, and he was booked into the Wake County jail. Bond was denied again at an initial hearing on Monday, Oct. 26. He is due back in court on the new charges on Nov. 16.
The first arrest
This is his second arrest in under a year. DeSena turned himself in last December, and the first case began on Dec. 1, 2025, with two counts of felony secret peeping. The accusation was that he had recorded a woman in a bedroom and bathroom. An indictment placed the alleged crime at a rental property, and the warrant dated it to Oct. 10, 2025. He walked out of the Currituck County jail on Dec. 3 after posting a $5,000 bond.
He pleaded guilty on July 27, 2026. The sentence was 60 months of probation, 100 hours of community service and a mental health assessment. The court recommended that a psychiatrist or psychologist who specializes in psychosexual treatment carry out the evaluation. As part of the plea he was not required to register as a sex offender.
The quiz show years
On television, DeSena was a winner. His two victories in November 2024 earned him $44,698, and he came back in January for the Winter 2025 Champions Wildcard tournament.
The show he played on is a long-running fixture. The syndicated version, produced now by Sony Pictures Television, premiered on Sept. 10, 1984, and has won a record 45 Emmy Awards. It is in its 43rd season.
Charges at this stage are allegations only. The Nov. 16 hearing will be the next time DeSena appears before a judge on them.
Sources
- Jeopardy!
- 2-time ‘Jeopardy!’ winner from North Carolina arrested again
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- Former Raleigh "Jeopardy!" contestant charged with 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor
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Photo: Coolcaesar (CC BY-SA 4.0)
