Jeopardy Champion Arrested on Felony Secret Peeping Charges: Report

Well, this is grim: a recent Jeopardy! contestant who made a bit of a splash last year has been arrested on two felony counts in North Carolina. Philip Joseph 'Joey' DeSena, a two-time champ from November 2024, is facing secret peeping charges, according to court documents reported by Entertainment Weekly.

Why you might recognize him

DeSena popped up on Jeopardy! in November 2024, won back-to-back games, and left with $44,698. He came back in January for the Champions Wildcard Tournament, but his run stopped in the semifinals. Off TV, he is a development engineer based in Raleigh, North Carolina.

What the warrant says

Per the arrest warrant, investigators accuse DeSena of installing a camera in a bathroom to capture images without consent. The language is pretty stark:

'unlawfully, willfully, and feloniously' installing in a room 'any device that can be used to create a photographic image, namely camera placed in the bathroom, with the intent to capture the image of another without their consent.'

That is the allegation as written in the paperwork; the case still has to move through the courts.

The timeline, laid out

• Oct 10, 2025: Authorities say the offense occurred.
• Dec 1, 2025: DeSena was taken into custody in North Carolina.
• Dec 3, 2025: A $5,000 bond was posted, according to court records.
• Dec 10, 2025 (Wednesday): First court appearance is set for Currituck County Court.

Big picture

Jeopardy! rolls through about 400 contestants a year, and a surprising number turn into mini-personalities online after their episodes air. The show itself is still chugging along in its 42nd season. This particular story, though, is very much off the board for trivia night and firmly in the legal system now.