‘Jeopardy!’ champion Joey DeSena arrested on 10 child exploitation charges

Joey DeSena, former Jeopardy! champion, faces 10 child exploitation charges following his secret peeping conviction

Former Jeopardy! contestant Joey DeSena has been arrested in North Carolina on 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, according to court documents obtained by TMZ.

DeSena was arrested last Friday and is accused of possessing sexually explicit images and videos of children. An arrest warrant was also issued in connection with the allegations.

He was booked into Wake County Jail and held without bail following his first court appearance, the report stated. The charges remain allegations, and the case is ongoing.

The latest arrest comes months after DeSena was convicted of felony secret peeping charges. He was arrested in December 2025 on two counts after allegedly filming a woman in her bedroom and bathroom without her knowledge.

DeSena later pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 60 months of probation. He was also ordered to complete 100 hours of community service and undergo a mental health examination with a psychologist specialising in psychosexual treatment.

His latest arrest reportedly occurred nearly three months after his conviction in the secret peeping case.

Before his legal troubles, DeSena worked as a development engineer based in Raleigh, North Carolina. He appeared on the quiz show Jeopardy! in 2024, winning two games and earning $44,698.

Following his initial run, DeSena returned to the competition for the 2025 Champions Wildcard tournament. He advanced to the semifinals before being eliminated.

The new charges mark another legal development for the former Jeopardy! contestant, whose previous conviction resulted in probation and court-ordered requirements. Further proceedings in the latest case are expected to determine how the allegations will be addressed.