Thomas Markle Sr., the estranged father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, was arrested Friday, Nov. 6, in Florida, the Justice Department announced, according to CBS News.
Federal prosecutors allege Markle kept child sexual abuse material in two Los Angeles-area storage units he rented for nearly two decades.
“These allegations are extremely serious, and we will prosecute Mr. Markle to the fullest extent of federal law,” said Bill Essayli, first assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California.
Markle made his first appearance in federal court in Tampa on Friday, arriving in a wheelchair, CBS News reported. Prosecutors said they had not decided whether he will be transferred to California.
The charges are allegations, and Markle is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Sources: CBS News. Thee Arizona Times uses AI-assisted reporting reviewed against the sources listed.
Photo: Carol M. Highsmith / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
