Thomas Markle ordered to jail after removing ankle monitor
The 82-year-old father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, was sentenced to custody after cutting off a court-mandated electronic monitoring device following his arrest on child sexual abuse material charges.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Lindsay Griffin ordered 82-year-old Thomas Markle, the estranged father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, to be taken into custody after he removed an electronic ankle monitor that had been imposed as a condition of his release. Markle had been arrested in Lakeland, Florida, on charges of possessing child sexual abuse material stored in several California storage units.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said the device was cut off at 1:45 a.m. and emphasized that release conditions are court orders, not suggestions.
"Release conditions are court orders, not suggestions," Essayli said.
The seizure of approximately 78 items, including slides, film negatives and books suspected of containing child sexual abuse images, prompted the federal investigation. Essayli noted the discovery stemmed from a search of the storage units that Markle had rented since 2008.
Griffin described Markle’s housing situation as “untenable” and ordered that he remain in custody while the case proceeds, with a likely transfer to California. A mental-competency examination has been scheduled, with results due by Nov. 20.
Markle, who suffered a stroke earlier this year and subsequently had his left leg amputated, was living in a senior care centre at the time of his arrest. Authorities have not disclosed where he will be held during the ongoing proceedings.