Thomas Markle Sr., Meghan's father, arrested in Florida

It was reported in October that Meghan’s estranged father, Thomas Markle, was under investigation by authorities in the Philippines for alleged possession of child sexual abuse materials.

Thomas Markle Sr., the estranged father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, was arrested Friday in Florida in connection with allegations he possessed child sex abuse material in storage units in California, the Justice Department announced. The announcement came after three sources familiar with the matter confirmed the arrest to CBS News. The Justice Department said Markle was arrested for allegedly keeping child sexual abuse material, including sexually explicit photographs of himself with prepubescent girls, in two Los Angeles-area storage units he rented for nearly two decades. "These allegations are extremely serious, and we will prosecute Mr. Markle to the fullest extent of federal law," Bill Essayli, first assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, said in a statement.

Markle, who made his first court appearance in federal court in Tampa on Friday, entered the courtroom in a wheelchair, wearing black pants and a black T-shirt with an illustration of a cat drinking a tropical drink. Markle was advised that this hearing was related to the items found in two storage units in California. Prosecutors said they have not made a determination on whether he stays in Florida or is transferred to California, where the charges originated. U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas Wilson ordered Markle released on personal recognizance and ordered him to submit to home detention and electronic monitoring.