Thomas Markle Sr., 82, was arrested Friday in Florida on a federal complaint alleging possession of child sexual abuse material, the Justice Department said, according to CBS News and Al Jazeera^1,2.

A U.S. magistrate in Tampa ordered him released on personal recognizance with home detention and electronic monitoring and barred travel outside the Middle District of Florida and the Central District of California, CBS News reported¹. No plea was taken; arraignment in California has not been scheduled^1,4.

Prosecutors said FBI agents, with warrants, searched two Los Angeles-area storage units registered to Markle since 2008 and seized about 78 items, including photographs, film negatives and books they allege contained illegal images^1,2. The complaint describes images a witness identified as Markle with a minor; those are allegations in charging papers, not findings of guilt^1,2.

Al Jazeera reported authorities learned in October of an affidavit about material among Markle’s possessions in the Philippines, which led to the California searches². CBS News said Philippine police opened an inquiry after Thomas Markle Jr. turned over items, and Baja California prosecutors said a Oct. 29 search near Tijuana found magazines and tapes referred to federal authorities in Mexico¹.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said the office would prosecute to the fullest extent of federal law¹. FBI Director Kash Patel issued a statement accusing Markle of targeting children; Markle has previously denied similar allegations, calling them lies, CBS News reported¹. If convicted, the Justice Department said the statutory maximum is 20 years^1,2.

WESH, carrying Associated Press reporting, said people familiar with the matter described an arrest near Tampa on Friday morning³. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex did not comment on the arrest Friday, according to BBC and Al Jazeera^2,4. In October, Meghan said she was distressed by reports of allegations and that distance from her father was to protect her children².

Guilt or innocence has not been determined. Transfer to California, any additional charges abroad, and a trial timeline remain unset^1,2.