Thomas Markle Sr., the estranged father of Meghan Markle, faces child pornography charges, with prosecutors alleging he possessed such material and was photographed appearing to fondle young girls. The disturbing details emerged in a newly unsealed criminal complaint.
According to court papers, two images purportedly show the 82-year-old touching naked girls while clothed. In one photograph, a girl is seated on his lap, and in another, he is lying on a bed with a nude girl in front of him.
The federal investigation led to the seizure of material from Markle Sr.'s home in the Philippines and two storage units he rented in Mexico and California for approximately 18 years. He has been charged with one count of possession of child pornography.
Markle Sr. has denied the allegations, calling them "sick lies." A representative for the Duchess of Sussex stated she was "deeply distressed" by the accusations against her father.
If convicted, Markle Sr. could face a decade in prison. He was scheduled to appear in federal court in Tampa, Florida.