LOS ANGELES, CA — Meghan Markle's estranged father was released under electronic monitoring Friday after appearing in federal court on a child pornography charge stemming from the discovery of suspected child sexual abuse material in two Los Angeles-area storage units.
Thomas Wayne Markle, 82, of Lakeland, Florida, was arrested at a senior care facility before appearing in federal court in Tampa, where he was released on bond and ordered to return to the facility under electronic monitoring, according to People and FOX.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Lindsay Griffin also ordered an examination to determine whether Markle can understand the proceedings and assist in his defense. The case is expected to move to California.
Markle, whose daughter is Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, faces one federal count of possession of child pornography after FBI agents seized approximately 78 items containing suspected child sexual abuse material from two storage units he had rented since 2008, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California.
The investigation began in October when authorities learned that suspected material had been discovered among Markle's belongings in the Philippines. Investigators subsequently identified two Los Angeles-area storage units registered to him, with payments continuing as recently as October.
FBI agents obtained search warrants and seized 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 showed a nude young girl in a room that appeared to be part of a motel chain in the Philippines. Additional photographs appeared to show Markle with children in various stages of undress.
"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."
The investigation followed reports that Markle's son, Thomas Markle Jr., discovered suspected child sexual abuse material at their father's former home in the Philippines and contacted authorities, The Associated Press reported.
Markle has denied wrongdoing, previously describing the allegations as "sick lies," according to CBS News.
Meghan previously said she was "deeply distressed" by the allegations and revealed that British authorities had shared troubling accusations about her father with her years earlier. She said she had kept him from having contact with her children "to protect them," according to the Los Angeles Times.
The FBI investigation remains ongoing. If convicted, Markle faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
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