Former “Jeopardy!” Champion Arrested on Child Pornography Charges

A two-time champion from “Jeopardy!” has been taken into custody in North Carolina due to allegations of possessing child pornography. This incident comes about a year after a previous arrest where he was accused of secretly recording a woman in private spaces.

Joey DeSena, 44, was arrested on a Friday in Wake County. He faces 10 counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor for reportedly possessing explicit images and videos involving children, as stated in an arrest warrant obtained by various media.

During a court appearance, DeSena was denied bail and was taken to the Wake County Jail. A judge remarked that he allegedly had child pornography while already on probation for a prior offense.

Back in December 2025, he was arrested for allegedly filming a woman in her bedroom and bathroom without her consent.

On July 27, 2026, DeSena pleaded guilty to two counts of felony secret peeping, resulting in a sentence of 60 months of probation. Along with probation, the judge required him to complete 100 hours of community service and to undergo a mental health evaluation.

DeSena gained some fame for winning two episodes of “Jeopardy!” in November 2024, netting over $44,000. He later participated in the Champions Wildcard tournament in January 2025 but was eliminated in the semifinals.

As of now, his next court hearing is scheduled for November 16.