Meghan Markle's father jailed again after cutting off ankle monitor in federal child sex abuse case

Thomas Markle, the estranged father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, was ordered held without release this week after federal prosecutors said he cut off his court-ordered ankle monitor less than 72 hours after his arrest on a child sexual abuse material charge. Markle, 82, was taken into custody near Tampa, Florida, and first appeared in federal court there in a wheelchair on Nov. 6, according to a report citing a Justice Department spokesperson, who said Markle was ordered jailed without bond and remains in federal custody.

According to a Justice Department announcement, Markle faces one federal count of possessing child sexual abuse material after FBI agents searching two storage units he had rented in the Los Angeles area since 2008 said they found roughly 78 items, including slides, film negatives and books, containing images of himself with minor girls. Under the federal statute cited in the complaint, the charge carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison because the material is alleged to involve prepubescent children. A judge initially released Markle on conditions that included home detention with electronic monitoring, a psychiatric evaluation, a ban on contact with minors and a prohibition on internet-capable devices. Prosecutors allege he cut the monitor off overnight, and federal bail law allows a judge to revoke release and order detention through trial when there is clear evidence a release condition was broken.

Investigation reached across two continents

The FBI's involvement began after investigators said they received information describing suspected abuse images found among Markle's belongings in the Philippines, where he had been living until a stroke led to the amputation of his left leg and his return to the United States earlier this year. Bill Essayli, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, said his office would pursue the case "to the fullest extent" of federal law, while FBI Director Kash Patel said Markle "allegedly targeted innocent children." Meghan said in a statement that she was "deeply distressed" by the allegations, and disclosed that a 2019 letter describing concerns about her father's conduct had been sent to London's Metropolitan Police, which she said never shared it with other law enforcement agencies.

Markle remains in federal custody while prosecutors pursue formal revocation of his earlier release, and no trial date has been set. Meghan said her decision years ago to limit her father's access to her children was intended "to protect them," and that her hope was for "justice to be served and children kept safe." Markle has denied the allegations. He is presumed innocent unless and until convicted.