Meghan Markle's Father Transferred to Prison After Cutting Off Electronic Tag
Thomas Markle is again in custody in a Florida federal prison. He was transferred there after removing his electronic ankle monitor. Previously, Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex's father, and Prince Harry's father-in-law, was placed under house arrest on charges of possessing child pornography, reports BBC.
On Tuesday, Thomas Markle appeared before a federal judge in Tampa, Florida, and was denied bail. According to prosecutors, Markle removed his electronic ankle monitor on Tuesday morning.
According to court documents, on Tuesday, Judge Lindsey S. Griffin determined that Markle violated the terms of his previous release. Under the terms of his house arrest, he was ordered to wear a location tracking device.
Thomas Markle's representatives have not yet commented on the change in his detention.
Judge Griffin characterized Markle's housing situation as "unacceptable," writing in the order to revoke house arrest, that "due to the lack of suitable housing, no conditions could reasonably guarantee the safety of others, nor the defendant's appearance in court."
She also ordered a medical examination for Markle and stated that he "must receive all necessary and prescribed medications, unless a doctor discontinues them."
The 82-year-old Markle was first arrested last week after the FBI searched storage units in Los Angeles, registered in his name and rented by him since 2008, with the last payment made in October of this year, the Department of Justice reported.
According to the FBI, inside the units, agents confiscated about 78 items, including negatives, slides, and books, which allegedly contain child sexual abuse material.
Witnesses "unequivocally identified" Markle in two images, allegedly containing child sexual abuse material.
These images depict a man "appearing to be between 30 and 40 years old," suggesting that the alleged abuse occurred several decades ago, as Markle is now 82 years old.
Markle appeared in court last week after his arrest. During the hearing, he pleaded not guilty.
According to the US Department of Justice, he has been charged with one count of possession of indecent images of children.
FBI Director Kash Patel stated last week that Markle "targeted innocent children as victims and sought to strip them of their innocence through his criminal acts."
Thomas Markle, in turn, called these accusations "vile lies."
Last year, he moved to the Philippines after a series of strokes. In Florida, he was relearning to walk after a leg amputation.
The Duchess of Sussex has not been in contact with her father since 2018. As the BBC learned, she definitively cut all ties with him last year, telling him that both she and the authorities were aware of his behavior towards underage girls.
In a previously published statement, Meghan Markle wrote: «I am deeply saddened... my thoughts are with the children who may have been harmed.»
She said she hoped for understanding as to why she had almost completely stopped contact with her father and "had not allowed him to communicate with our children."
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