Thomas Markle Sr., the estranged father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, was arrested in Florida on federal charges of possessing child sexual abuse material found in California storage units.
Thomas Markle Sr., the estranged father of Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, was arrested in Florida on Friday on a federal charge of possessing child sexual abuse material, the Justice Department announced.
Markle, 82, was arrested in Lakeland, Florida, and made his first court appearance in federal court in Tampa on Friday. He is charged with one count of possession of child pornography, according to a criminal complaint.
The Justice Department said Markle was arrested for allegedly keeping child sexual abuse material, including sexually explicit photographs of himself with prepubescent girls, in two Los Angeles-area storage units he rented for nearly two decades.
Federal agents seized approximately 78 items, including slides, film negatives and books that contained suspected child sexual abuse materials. The FBI searched the storage units, which Markle Sr. had kept since 2008.
"These allegations are extremely serious, and we will prosecute Mr. Markle to the fullest extent of federal law," Bill Essayli, first assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, said in a statement.
Markle entered the courtroom in a wheelchair, wearing black pants and a black T-shirt with an illustration of a cat drinking a tropical drink. U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas Wilson ordered Markle released on personal recognizance and ordered him to submit to home detention and electronic monitoring. Markle is also not permitted to travel outside the Middle District of Florida and the Central District of California.
No plea was taken. Markle's arraignment date in the Central District of California is not yet scheduled, but likely won't happen for at least several weeks.
The Daily Mail, a British tabloid newspaper, first reported Markle's arrest.
Last month, it was reported that Markle was under investigation by authorities in the Philippines for alleged possession of child sexual abuse material. Markle has denied the claims against him, calling them "sick lies."
A spokesperson for the Philippine National Police told CBS News in a statement that they launched an investigation after Markle's personal items were turned over to law enforcement by his son, Thomas Markle Jr.
Markle Jr. told the Sun tabloid last month that he reported the images to police in the Philippines and contacted the FBI.
"I have supported, cared for him and helped him for years — but that stops now," Markle Jr. told The Sun. "I won't speak to my father ever again unless I'm called to give evidence against him."
Meghan, who recently moved back to Britain with her husband Prince Harry and their children, said in a statement sent to CBS News that she had been aware of the allegations against him since 2018 and that the allegations were shared with U.K. authorities at the time.
"I hope it can now be understood that, despite certain media publications' distortion over the years, any distance from my father and my choice to not allow him to have contact with our children, was for one reason: to protect them," she said.
Meghan will not be commenting on the arrest at this time, sources say.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
The day's checked news, by email
One short email a day with the top stories. Free, and you can unsubscribe in one click.
Or follow for the latest news:
No comments yet. Start the discussion.
EntertainmentTrending
Keanu Reeves will reprise his role as John Wick in an animated prequel film from Lionsgate. The story will follow Wick as he completes the Impossible Task to free himself from the High Table.
A London jury convicted comedian Russell Brand of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault after a four-week trial. He faces sentencing Monday and was taken into custody.
