DeSantis appointee arrested on child sex charges
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Palm Beach Clerk Michael Caruso, 67, was arrested Tuesday on five felony child sex abuse charges. He was suspended by Gov. DeSantis, who appointed him a year ago.
Background
Michael Caruso, a former Florida House member and staunch DeSantis ally, was appointed as Palm Beach County clerk of courts in August 2025. The arrest follows an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement that began after the alleged victim's father reported abuse in October 2025. Caruso faces charges including kidnapping and child molestation related to the alleged abuse of his grandson.
How it unfolded
- Oct 2025The boy's father discovered the abuse after seeing the boy behave in a sexualized manner with his younger brother and reported it to authorities.
- Feb 10, 2026In a recorded conversation, Caruso told the boy's father the allegations were impossible due to his sexual orientation and warned that reporting to police would leave 'none of me left.'
- Aug 18, 2026Caruso was arrested early Tuesday morning and booked into Palm Beach County jail on five felony charges. Gov. DeSantis suspended him from office hours later.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the arrest, stating Caruso was taken into custody with substantial assistance from FDLE and local law enforcement.
- Public
- The Clerk's office said the news was 'surprising' for the team but affirmed their commitment to the community and customers.
Still unverified
Caruso's first wife, Beverly Caruso, had previously accused him of sexually assaulting a child during their divorce case, but he dismissed the allegations as false. These prior allegations are not part of the current charges.