Two-time Jeopardy Champion Faces Ten New Sex Exploitation Charges in Raleigh

Philip Joseph DeSena, a 44-year-old North Carolina engineer and two-time Jeopardy champion, faces 10 new counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. The charges were filed in Wake County following his arrest on October 23.

Court records indicate the new charges stem from DeSena’s alleged possession of sexually explicit pictures and videos depicting children. He was booked into the Wake County Jail on the 23rd. During an initial hearing held Monday, the judge denied his request for bond. DeSena is scheduled to return to court on November 16 to address the new allegations.

This is the second time DeSena has been arrested in less than a year. His previous detention occurred on December 1, 2025, when he was charged with two counts of felony secret peeping. Those charges related to the alleged recording of a woman in a bedroom and bathroom. On July 27, 2026, DeSena pleaded guilty to those peeping charges.

Following his guilty plea, DeSena received a sentence of 60 months of probation. The court also ordered him to complete 100 hours of community service. Additionally, he must undergo a mental health assessment from a psychiatrist or psychologist specializing in psychosexual treatment. DeSena lives in Raleigh and won two episodes of Jeopardy in November 2024. He also competed in the show’s Winter 2025 Champions Wildcard tournament in January, earning a combined total of $44,698 from his two victories.