Thomas Markle charged with possession of child sexual abuse material
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Sowetan and TimesLIVE
Thomas Markle, Meghan Markle’s father, has been charged in the United States with possession of child sexual abuse material found in two storage units in California. He was arrested in Florida and released under electronic monitoring and home confinement, according to Sowetan. Authorities say about 78 items were seized and Markle faces up to 20 years in prison.
Thomas Markle has been charged with one count of possession of child sexual abuse material after images were discovered in two storage units he rented in the Los Angeles area, according to the US Department of Justice. Arrested in Florida by federal agents, Meghan Markle’s 82-year-old father appeared before a judge in Tampa, who ordered him to remain at home under electronic monitoring pending his trial.
An FBI affidavit says agents seized about 78 items, including slides, 35mm photographic negatives and books containing images of child sexual abuse. The document states that at least two images on the negatives show a man identified as Markle with a naked prepubescent girl in sexually explicit poses.
The FBI opened its investigation in October after a person said they had discovered suspected material among Markle’s belongings in the Philippines. Philippine authorities are also investigating similar allegations, while British police announced last month that they would refer allegations concerning him to foreign authorities. Markle had previously denied the allegations, calling them “sick lies”, while Meghan Markle said she was “deeply distressed” by the allegations.
