Raleigh engineer faces new charges after probation violation
Philip DeSena was booked into Wake County Jail on October 23 for alleged possession of child exploitation material.
By Layla Edwards ·
Philip Joseph DeSena, a 44-year-old Raleigh engineer and two-time “Jeopardy!” champion, was arrested on October 23 in Wake County. Court records list 10 counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor against him. The alleged offenses involve the possession of sexually explicit images and videos featuring children. DeSena was denied bond during his initial hearing on Monday.
This is the second time in less than a year that DeSena has been taken into custody. In December 2025, he was charged with two counts of felony secret peeping. Those charges arose from the alleged recording of a woman in a bedroom and a bathroom. On July 27, 2026, DeSena pleaded guilty to those charges. The court sentenced him to 60 months of probation, ordered 100 hours of community service, and required a mental health evaluation.
The court specified that the evaluation should be conducted by a psychiatrist or psychologist specializing in psychosexual treatment. The new arrest suggests a violation of his probation terms. DeSena participated in the “Winter 2025 Champions Wildcard” tournament in January. He had previously won two episodes of the game show in November 2024, earning a combined total of $44,698.
DeSena is scheduled to appear back in court on November 16 for the new sexual exploitation charges.
Source: KCTV5
