Two-time ‘Jeopardy!’ champion arrested on child porn charges while on probation: officials
Joey DeSena, 44, was denied bond following his latest arrest after a judge noted that he allegedly possessed child pornography while on probation for a previous secret peeping conviction. (Wake County Bureau of Forensic Services)
A two-time "Jeopardy!" champion was arrested in North Carolina on allegations of possessing child pornography, roughly a year after a separate arrest in which he was accused of recording a woman in a bedroom and bathroom.
Joey DeSena, 44, was arrested Friday in Wake County, North Carolina, and charged with 10 counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor after allegedly being found in possession of sexually explicit images and videos involving children, according to an arrest warrant obtained by Fox News Digital.
DeSena was denied bond and booked into the Wake County Jail, with a judge saying that he allegedly had child porn while he was on probation for another crime.
DeSena won two episodes of "Jeopardy!" in November 2024, bringing in just over $44,000. He returned to compete in the show's Champions Wildcard tournament in January 2025 but was eliminated in the semifinals. (Amanda Edwards/Getty Images)
In December 2025, DeSena was arrested after he allegedly recorded a woman in a bedroom and bathroom.
He pleaded guilty to two counts of felony secret peeping on July 27, 2026, and was sentenced to 60 months of probation.
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A judge also required him to complete 100 hours of community service in addition to completing a mental health assessment or evaluation.
DeSena won two episodes of "Jeopardy!" in November 2024, bringing in just over $44,000. He returned to compete in the show's Champions Wildcard tournament in January 2025, but was eliminated in the semifinals round.
His next court hearing is on Nov. 16.