Thomas Markle Sr., the 82-year-old estranged father of Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, was arrested Friday, 6 November, in Florida on a federal criminal complaint alleging possession of child sexual abuse material. The U.S. Justice Department said the case concerns material found in two Los Angeles-area storage units he had rented for nearly two decades.

He was taken into custody at a senior care facility in Lakeland, Florida, and appeared in federal court in Tampa. A magistrate released him on personal recognizance with home detention and electronic monitoring; no plea was entered at that stage. Whether he remains in Florida or is transferred to California, where the charges originated, has not been finally decided.

The probe followed a tip from the Philippines: his son, Thomas Markle Jr., said he found suspected material among his father’s belongings and turned it over to authorities. FBI agents later seized dozens of items — slides, film negatives and books — from the California units. Court papers describe images alleged to constitute child pornography, including photos in which a witness identified Markle Sr. with a minor — allegations the courts will test.

Meghan Markle, estranged from her father since 2018, said she was deeply distressed and had known of the allegations since 2018, when they were shared with U.K. authorities. She said distance from her father and limits on contact with her children were meant to protect them.

Samantha Markle, the duchess’s half-sister, defended their father and disputed her brother’s claims. Thomas Markle Sr. has denied the allegations. Arrest and charge are not a conviction; the case remains before the justice system.

Source: Tatăl lui Meghan Markle, arestat în Florida pentru presupusa deținere de pornografie infantilă (G4Media); Meghan's estranged father arrested and charged with possessing child sexual abuse materials (AP)