Michael Caruso, the Palm Beach County Clerk of Court and former Republican state legislator, was arrested on Tuesday facing serious charges. Caruso, aged 67, is accused of five felony counts related to child sex abuse. These include kidnapping, child molestation, lewd exhibition, luring or enticing a child, and child abuse causing mental injury, as revealed by an arrest affidavit.
The allegations involve a child who is a relative of Caruso, with reported incidents occurring from fall 2024 to August 2025. The arrest affidavit mentions abuse on several occasions, including a family cruise, a fishing outing, and a Thanksgiving gathering. Since April 2026, the child has been receiving therapeutic services.
Being in a position of public trust provides no shield from accountability,State Attorney General James Uthmeier stated, emphasizing the severity of the charges.
Following the arrest, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who previously appointed Caruso in August 2025, suspended him immediately from his role. Newsweek has reached out to both the Palm Beach County Clerk’s Office and DeSantis’ office for comments.
Caruso’s Legislative Support
While serving as a representative for District 87 in the Florida House, Caruso supported the 2023 Florida Capital Sexual Battery law. This law allows for the death penalty for adults convicted of sexually abusing children under 12. Caruso voted in favor on April 13, 2023, and the bill, signed by DeSantis in May 2023, became effective six months later.
Scheduled for reelection in November, Caruso was not on the primary ballot as he ran uncontested. However, the Florida GOP urged him to withdraw from the race immediately due to the charges.
The news has been a shock to the entire team at the Palm Beach County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller’s office. They are currently seeking further directions from the governor’s office regarding future actions. Shannon Ramsey-Chessman has been sworn in as the interim clerk following Caruso’s suspension. As of Tuesday afternoon, Caruso’s official webpage was inaccessible.
Caruso has been detained in the Orange County jail without bond, and the investigation is ongoing. Uthmeier’s office anticipates more charges in the future.