Thomas Markle charged in US child sexual abuse material case
What's next: The 82-year-old was released to home detention with electronic monitoring and will face a later arraignment in California.
Thomas Markle, the estranged father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, appeared in federal court in Florida after authorities charged him with possessing child sexual abuse material. Prosecutors said FBI agents searched two Los Angeles-area storage units Markle had rented since 2008 and seized about 78 items, including film negatives, slides and books alleged to contain abuse images. Court filings said at least two frames showed a man identified by a witness as Markle with a nude prepubescent girl. Markle, 82, entered no plea at his initial appearance. A judge ordered him released pending trial under home detention at his assisted living facility and electronic monitoring. The Justice Department said the charge carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison.