By admin 
CURRITUCK COUNTY, N.C. (WAVY) — A judge declined Monday to take the guilty plea of a man accused of installing cameras in a bathroom and bedroom of a Corolla beach rental home last October.
Philip DeSena, 44, appeared in-person in a Currituck County courtroom Monday for a felony secret peeping case, as state prosecutors are accusing DeSena of installing cameras in a bathroom and bedroom of a beach rental home in Corolla Oct. 10, 2025. He was arrested later that December. DeSena was released from jail on $5,000 bond.
An indictment alleges he secretly planted the cameras for sexual gratification, listing the same victim under both charges. A grand jury later concluded the state has enough evidence to move forward with a potential trial.
Tax records show DeSena does not own the Corolla rental home listed in court documents. He lives in Raleigh. That beach rental home is within walking distance of the ocean, has six bedrooms, five bathrooms and a half bath.
At his court hearing on Monday, DeSena and his counsel told the judge he wants to plead guilty. Both the prosecution and defense attorneys quietly spoke with the judge for about five minutes. The judge did not take his guilty plea, instead moving this matter to a plea conference on July 27th.
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10 On Your Side tried speaking with DeSena after the hearing. When asked for his side of the story, he told 10 On Your Side’s Nick Broadway: “I think it’s really kind of painful that you’re doing this, actually. … That’s it.”
DeSena did not answer any more questions on the way back to his vehicle.
10 On Your Side spoke off camera with his defense attorney, who said the judge wants DeSena to take care of a few things before entering a plea.
In November 2024, DeSena competed on “Jeopardy,” winning two games and a $46,698 prize. He later appeared in the Champions Wildcard Tournament last January, finishing in the semifinals.
DeSena is also known on YouTube under the name “Roo” for the channel “ClanOfTheGrayWolf.” That channel has not uploaded a video in more than 10 years. The channel removed all of its videos sometime shortly after the court hearing Monday.
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