Thomas Markle Sr., the estranged father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, was arrested in Florida on Friday over a federal charge involving the alleged possession of child sexual abuse material, according to US authorities.
Bill Essayli, first assistant US attorney for the Central District of California, confirmed that the 82-year-old was taken into custody after a criminal complaint was submitted on Thursday. If found guilty, Markle could face a maximum prison sentence of 20 years.
According to Essayli, the FBI received information suggesting that Markle possessed illegal material and had rented two storage facilities in the Los Angeles area.
Following court-approved searches, investigators reportedly recovered around 78 items, including photographic slides, film negatives and books containing suspected child sexual abuse material.
Essayli also stated that three images mentioned in the criminal complaint’s supporting affidavit allegedly showed Markle alongside minors. He described the accusations as extremely serious and said prosecutors intended to pursue the case under the full extent of federal law.
Markle Denies Allegations as Philippine Probe Continues
The arrest comes after reports emerged last month that authorities in the Philippines had opened an investigation into similar allegations involving Markle. He has rejected the accusations, calling them false and insisting that he had never downloaded such material.
A Philippine National Police spokesperson told CBS News that the investigation began after Markle’s son, Thomas Markle Jr., handed over his father’s personal belongings to law enforcement officials.
Meanwhile, Meghan said she had known about allegations concerning her father since 2018 and that British authorities had also been informed at the time.
In comments to CBS News, she explained that these concerns played a significant role in her and Prince Harry’s decision to prevent her father from meeting their children, Archie and Lilibet.
Meghan emphasized that keeping her children away from her father was a protective decision rather than the result of media speculation or misrepresentation.
BBC News also reported that Meghan confronted her father about the allegations last year. In a letter, she reportedly referred to information known to her and authorities and made clear that he would not be allowed to meet her children.
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