‘Jeopardy’ Champ Philip DeSena Reportedly Faces Charges Of Secretly Recording In Bathroom

Police reportedly took two-time “Jeopardy!” champion Philip Joseph “Joey” DeSena into custody on two charges of felony secret peeping Dec. 1.

The Currituck County Sheriff’s Office said DeSena, who secured victory in the game show twice in 2024, was apprehended in Maple, North Carolina, the New York Post reported. Authorities alleged he “unlawfully, willfully, and feloniously” placed “any device that can be used to create photographic image, namely a camera placed in the bathroom, with the intent to capture the image of another without their consent” Oct. 10, according to court documents.

A $5,000 bond was posted Dec. 3, and DeSena was ordered not to contact the alleged victim upon his release, according to WBTV News.

Details surrounding the peeping allegations and information surrounding the identity and age of the alleged victim were not publicly disclosed.

DeSena is expected to appear for a probable cause hearing scheduled to take place Dec. 10, according to People.

The “Jeopardy” star is a development engineer from Raleigh, the new York Post reported. He first appeared on the hit game show in November 2024 when he won twice on back to back nights. During his debut episode, two other contestants tied for second place, while DeSena reportedly took home $17,497. He returned the following day to win another $27,211, bringing his earnings to $44,698 over a 24-hour period.

DeSena later returned to the show to compete in the Champions Wildcard tournament Jan. 16.

DeSena is not the first “Jeopardy” contestant to face criminal charges after appearing on the show.

Winston Nguyen received a seven-year prison sentence earlier in 2025 after he posing as a teenager online to obtain explicit images from minors, according to the New York Post. (RELATED: ‘Jeopardy!’ Turns Mary Todd Lincoln Into Drag Queen Mockery)

Nguyen took part in two episodes in 2014 and won over $11,000 in his first appearance.