Thomas Markle, 82, placed under house detention in Florida after child‑sex‑abuse material charge

Thomas Markle, 82, was placed under house detention at a Florida assisted‑living facility after a federal charge of possessing indecent images of children. The Department of Justice said he faces one count of possessing child sexual abuse material. He denied the claims, calling them "sick lies". A 30‑minute hearing on Friday ordered him to wear an electronic monitor but no plea was entered. Federal prosecutor Courtenay Derry read the charges as two US Marshals escorted the wheelchair‑bound man into court. He was described as wearing dark pants and a dark shirt. An arraignment in California will be set later, according to a joint DoJ and U.S. Attorney’s Office statement. The arrest followed FBI execution of warrants on two Los Angeles‑area storage units registered to Markle since 2008; the last rent payment was made in October. Agents seized roughly 78 items – film negatives, slides and books – that they say contain illegal images. FBI director Kash Patel said authorities moved quickly and pledged to use every resource to protect children, warning that any predator will find no safe haven. Witnesses positively identified Markle in two of the pictures, noting the individual appears to be in his 30s‑40s, suggesting the alleged abuse dates back decades. Earlier, Philippine police, acting on a warrant, examined devices from Markle’s former home, receiving four boxes of material from his half‑brother Thomas Markle Jr. Markle had lived in Cebu after a series of strokes and, following a leg amputation, was in a Florida rehab center learning to walk again. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have not spoken on the matter. The Duchess previously said she was "deeply distressed" by the allegations and expressed sympathy for any harmed children. Meghan has been estranged from her father since 2018 and reportedly cut contact last year.

Context

Child‑sex‑abuse material cases often involve multiple jurisdictions because digital files can be stored in different locations, leading agencies like the FBI and foreign police to coordinate investigations.