LOS ANGELES, CA — Meghan Markle's estranged father was arrested Friday on a federal child pornography charge after FBI agents discovered suspected child sexual abuse material in two Los Angeles-area storage units he had rented for nearly two decades, authorities announced.
Thomas Wayne Markle, 82, of Lakeland, Florida, was charged with one count of possession of child pornography after investigators recovered photographs allegedly depicting him with underage girls, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California.
Markle, whose daughter is Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, was taken into custody in Florida and was expected to appear in federal court in Tampa on Friday. The investigation began in October when authorities learned that suspected child sexual abuse material had been discovered among Markle's belongings in the Philippines, according to an affidavit filed with the criminal complaint.
Investigators subsequently learned of two storage units registered to Markle in the Los Angeles area. FBI agents obtained search warrants for both facilities, which prosecutors said he had rented since 2008, with payments continuing as recently as October. Inside, agents seized approximately 78 items, including photographic slides, film negatives and books containing suspected child sexual abuse material.
According to prosecutors, two photographs depicted an adult man, identified by a witness as Markle, with a nude prepubescent girl. Another allegedly showed a nude young girl in what appeared to be a motel room in the Philippines. Additional photographs appeared to show Markle with children in various stages of undress, authorities said.
"Mr. Markle is accused of possessing child sexual abuse material, including photographs depicting himself with minor girls," First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said. "These allegations are extremely serious, and we will prosecute Mr. Markle to the fullest extent of federal law."
Markle previously denied allegations involving child sexual abuse material, calling them "sick lies" in comments reported by CBS News. His daughter, who married Prince Harry in 2018, previously said she was deeply distressed by allegations involving her father. According to The Associated Press, Meghan said she had learned of troubling allegations years earlier and had sought to protect her children.
The FBI is investigating the case, with federal prosecutors in Los Angeles handling the prosecution. If convicted, Markle faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. The charge remains an allegation, and Markle is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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