Thomas Markle, the estranged father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has been remanded into custody after authorities said he removed his ankle monitor while awaiting a federal hearing in Florida.
The Department of Justice said Markle cut off the device shortly before 2am on Tuesday and was arrested soon afterwards. He had been released on bond following his arrest last week on a federal charge of possessing child sexual abuse material.
Judge orders mental examination
At a court hearing on Tuesday, a judge ordered Markle to undergo a mental examination and remanded him into custody. Prosecutors also asked for him to be transferred from Florida to California, where the case was filed, but the judge has not yet ruled on that request.
Markle had been wearing the monitor as a condition of his release. He had been staying in a senior living facility, but it reportedly would not allow him to return after his arrest. He was then released into the care of his daughter.
What the federal charge involves
Markle was arrested after authorities searched a storage unit in Los Angeles. Prosecutors allege investigators found photographs that appeared to depict him with nude underage girls.
He has denied the child pornography allegations in the past. The charge is an accusation, and the case has not been decided in court.
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