Palm Beach County Clerk Arrested On Child Sex Abuse Charges: FL Attorney General

PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL — Palm Beach County Clerk of Court Michael Caruso was arrested Tuesday on five felony charges related to the alleged sexual abuse of a child, according to a news release from Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier’s office.

Caruso, 67, of Riviera Beach was arrested early Tuesday with assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and local law enforcement agencies, Uthmeier said. The investigation remains ongoing.

Caruso was appointed Palm Beach County clerk and comptroller by DeSantis in August 2025 after serving in the Florida House of Representatives. He was seeking election to a full term as clerk this year.

His charges include kidnapping, lewd or lascivious molestation, lewd or lascivious exhibition, luring or enticing a child, and child abuse causing mental injury, according to an executive order issued by Gov. Ron DeSantis that suspended Caruso from office.

He will be transported to the Orange County Jail and held without bond ahead of his first court appearance.

The allegations involve Caruso’s grandson, who is younger than 12, according to the Statement of Probable Cause for his arrest, which DeSantis shared with his executive order.

The boy made the allegations against his grandfather after his parents saw the child “engaging in sexualized behavior with” his younger brother, records show.

The statement said that Caruso “enjoyed regular and unsupervised access to [the] victim” on an August 2025 family vacation, in Palm Beach County, and in Orange County, where the boy’s family lives.

“When allegations involve harm to a child, we mobilize every resource to uncover the truth and ensure those responsible are brought to justice,” FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass said. “Our team conducted a comprehensive investigation with close coordination from partner agencies. We are steadfast in protecting Florida’s children and will continue our work with the Office of Statewide Prosecution.”

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