Michael Caruso, a former Florida state lawmaker and ally of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, was arrested Tuesday on multiple child sex abuse charges and immediately suspended from his position as Palm Beach County Clerk.
The arrest and suspension came exactly one year after DeSantis appointed Caruso to the county clerk position.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the arrest, saying the 67-year-old Caruso faces multiple charges related to child sexual abuse.
According to WPTV, Caruso has been charged with kidnapping, lewd or lascivious molestation, lewd or lascivious exhibition, luring or enticing a child, and child abuse causing mental injury.
The alleged victim was under the age of 12 and described multiple instances of abuse to authorities, according to the Miami Herald. The alleged conduct reportedly occurred over the course of a year.
The child told authorities that Caruso allegedly played “tickle monster,” touched the child’s genitals and, during another alleged incident, put his own genitals in the child’s mouth.
Multiple outlets reported that Caruso repeatedly isolated the child and played “tickle” games with the alleged victim.
The allegations reportedly surfaced after a parent caught the child performing what was described as a “sexualized” act on a sibling. The child then disclosed the alleged incident involving Caruso, according to Florida Politics.
Florida Politics also reported that Caruso had faced accusations of sexual abuse from family members more than a decade ago.
Caruso previously served seven years in the Florida House of Representatives before DeSantis appointed him Palm Beach County Clerk on Aug. 18, 2025.
At the time of his arrest, Caruso was running unopposed for re-election as clerk.
Uthmeier credited the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and local authorities for assisting with the investigation and arrest.
“Early this morning, with substantial assistance from FDLE and local law enforcement, Palm Beach County Clerk of Court Michael Caruso was arrested on charges related to child sexual abuse,” Uthmeier said.
The attorney general added that authorities are continuing to investigate the case.
“The investigation is ongoing, and we will provide more information to the public at the appropriate time,” Uthmeier said.
Caruso was suspended from his position as Palm Beach County Clerk immediately following his arrest Tuesday, bringing an abrupt halt to his tenure exactly one year after his appointment by DeSantis.
The criminal case now centers on the allegations described by the child and the multiple charges filed against Caruso as state and local authorities continue their investigation.
[READ MORE: Former John Cornyn Staffer Jumps to Democrat James Talarico’s Texas Senate Campaign]
