Jeopardy! Winner Pleads Guilty to Felony Peeping

A former Jeopardy! contestant who once took home nearly $45,000 from the quiz show has now admitted to felony secret peeping in a North Carolina beach rental. Philip Joseph "Joey" DeSena, 44, pleaded guilty Monday to two felony counts after authorities say he "secretly and surreptitiously" installed cameras in a Corolla, NC, vacation home's bedroom and bathroom "for the purpose of arousing and gratifying the sexual desire of a person," according to an indictment cited by WAVY. Prosecutors said a woman visiting for a wedding on Oct. 10 last year discovered two black USB wall chargers that contained cameras in her rental, then alerted law enforcement, People reports.

DeSena, a development engineer who lives in Raleigh, turned himself in on Dec. 1 and was released on a $5,000 bond. He later completed a psycho-sexual evaluation and, under a plea deal, received a 60-month probationary sentence and will not be required to register as a sex offender, WAVY reports. DeSena appeared on Jeopardy! in November 2024, winning two games and $44,698, and returned for a Champions Wildcard Tournament in January 2025, where he was eliminated in the semifinals, reports WBTV.