Michael Caruso arrested on felony child abuse charges

Michael Caruso, the 67-year-old Palm Beach County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, has been arrested on five felony charges involving the alleged sexual abuse of a young relative. The charges include kidnapping, child molestation, lewd or lascivious exhibition, luring or enticing a child, and child abuse causing mental injury.

Investigators allege the abuse occurred on multiple occasions between the fall of 2024 and August 2025, including during family outings such as a cruise and a fishing trip. Caruso, a former Republican state legislator, was appointed to his current position by Governor Ron DeSantis in August 2025.

Upon learning of the allegations, Governor DeSantis immediately suspended Caruso from his office. The arrest has drawn significant attention due to Caruso’s legislative history; while serving in the Florida House, he voted in favor of House Bill 1297, a law that allows prosecutors to seek the death penalty for adults convicted of sexually battering children under the age of 12.