TAMPA, Fla. — A federal judge has ordered a psychiatric examination for Thomas Markle, the estranged father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, after his arrest on a charge of possessing child sexual abuse images, CBS News reported.
Markle, 82, is charged with one count of possession of child pornography and made an initial court appearance in Tampa on Friday after FBI agents took him into custody at the retirement home where he lives in Lakeland, Florida.
Judge Lindsay Griffin cited his “health condition,” “advanced age” and “lack of recall” in the order, and said she found “reasonable cause to believe” he may be unable to understand the proceedings or assist in his defense, according to CBS News. A psychiatrist’s report is due by Nov. 20.
The Justice Department alleges Markle kept abuse material in two Los Angeles-area storage units he rented for nearly two decades. Prosecutors also allege images were found at his former home in the Philippines and at a storage unit in Mexico.
“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 was released on personal recognizance and ordered to home detention with electronic monitoring, the report said.
Meghan said last month she was “deeply distressed” by the accusations. The case is an allegation; Markle has not been convicted.
Sources: CBS News. Thee Arizona Times uses AI-assisted reporting reviewed against the sources listed.
Photo: Carol M. Highsmith / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
