Thomas Markle arrested on charges related to child sex abuse material

The 82-year-old was taken into custody by FBI agents near Tampa on Friday and was expected to appear in federal court later in the day. The arrest follows an investigation that began after authorities received information about suspected abuse material linked to Markle and later traced his possessions to storage units in California.The 82-year-old was taken into custody by FBI agents near Tampa on Friday. (Photo: Reuters)Thomas Markle, the father of Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has been arrested in Florida and charged by US federal authorities with possessing child sexual abuse material, including images showing himself with underage girls.The 82-year-old was taken into custody by FBI agents near Tampa on Friday and was expected to appear in federal court later in the day. The arrest follows an investigation that began after authorities received information about suspected abuse material linked to Markle and later traced his possessions to storage units in California.The case has also drawn attention because of Markle's connection to the royal family. His daughter Meghan married Prince Harry in 2018, but their relationship has been strained for years.FBI INVESTIGATION LEADS TO CALIFORNIA STORAGE UNITSAccording to a federal criminal complaint, FBI agents searched two storage units in the Los Angeles area last week after obtaining a warrant. Markle had rented the units since 2008, according to the Justice Department. Investigators seized about 78 items, including slides, photographs, 35 mm film negatives and books containing child sexual abuse material. The FBI said it was still examining the material.An affidavit filed with the complaint alleged that at least two frames from the film negatives showed a man identified by a witness as Markle with a nude prepubescent girl. The affidavit said the images appeared to have been posed in a way designed to elicit a sexual response. Authorities have not said how or when the alleged images were created, and the investigation remains ongoing.FBI Director Kash Patel said agents would pursue the case aggressively."Mr Markle allegedly targeted innocent children and sought to steal their innocence through his criminal actions," Patel said."This FBI will use every single resource at our disposal to protect innocent kids – any predator who targets children will have zero safe haven in this country or anywhere they try to hide," he added.HOW THE INVESTIGATION BEGANThe FBI investigation reportedly began in October, after authorities learned of allegations involving Markle and suspected child sexual abuse material in the Philippines, where he had previously lived. According to the Justice Department, investigators later interviewed another person who knew that Markle was renting storage units in California. That information helped investigators connect the allegations overseas with possessions that remained in the US.Authorities in the Philippines had begun investigating Markle last month over allegations that he possessed child sexual abuse images. British police also said they would refer allegations concerning him to overseas law enforcement agencies after discovering that earlier claims had not been passed on when they were first received.The case therefore spans several countries, but the federal criminal charge against Markle was brought in the United States.MARKLE FACES UP TO 20 YEARS IN PRISONFederal prosecutors have charged Markle with one count of possession of child sexual abuse material. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in federal prison. Bill Essayli, first assistant US attorney for the Central District of California, said the allegations were being treated as a serious federal offence."Mr Markle is accused of possessing child sexual abuse material, including photographs depicting himself with minor girls," Essayli said, as quoted by The Guardian."These allegations are extremely serious, and we will prosecute Mr Markle to the fullest extent of federal law." Markle was expected to appear before a judge in Tampa. It was not immediately clear whether he had a lawyer representing him.The complaint includes some redacted information, including the identity of the federal agent who signed it. The agent is described as being assigned to the FBI’s violent crimes against children unit in Los Angeles.MARKLE HAS DENIED THE ALLEGATIONSMarkle has previously rejected allegations that he possessed child sexual abuse material. He told the Daily Mail that the accusations were untrue and described them as "sick lies".Photographs published by the newspaper showed Markle being taken away in a wheelchair in handcuffs and surrounded by FBI agents. When asked whether he was a paedophile, Markle reportedly replied: "No."He did not respond when asked whether he had ever collected child sexual abuse material.The allegations had already caused distress for Meghan, who said last month that she was "deeply distressed" by them. She also revealed that a letter containing "troubling allegations" about her father had been sent to London police in 2018.The arrest adds another chapter to the complicated relationship between Markle and his daughter. Thomas Markle did not attend Prince Harry and Meghan's 2018 wedding after a highly publicised breakdown in their relationship. Meghan has previously said she chose to distance herself from her father to protect her children.Markle, a retired television lighting and photography director, has remained largely separated from the couple since their marriage.- Ends