US authorities arrest Thomas Markle Sr. on child sexual abuse material charges

Federal law enforcement authorities arrested 82-year-old Thomas Markle Sr. in Florida on Friday following a multi-agency international investigation. According to the Daily Times, FBI agents executed the arrest outside Tampa. IOL and Malay Mail report that Markle, the estranged father of Meghan Markle, was taken into custody early Friday at his retirement home in Lakeland. He faces one count of possessing child pornography and was scheduled to make an initial court appearance in Tampa on Friday.

US Attorney Bill Essayli stated that Markle is accused of possessing child sexual abuse material, including photographs of himself with minor girls. The Justice Department alleged that Markle kept sexually explicit photographs of himself with prepubescent girls in two Los Angeles-area storage units rented for nearly two decades. IOL and Malay Mail report that agents seized approximately 78 items from these units, including books, film negatives, and slides.

Alleged child sexual abuse pictures were also found at a storage unit in Mexico and at Markle’s former residence in the Philippines, according to IOL and Malay Mail. If convicted of possessing child sexual abuse material, Markle could face up to 20 years in prison.

Brief written by urgent.news from Daily Times, IOL, Malay Mail — 3 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.