Palm Beach County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller Mike Caruso, a former Florida state representative and ally of Gov. Ron DeSantis, has been arrested on charges related to child sexual abuse involving a minor less than 12 years old.

Caruso, 67, faces five felony counts: kidnapping, child molestation, lewd exhibition, luring or enticing a child, and child abuse causing mental injury. DeSantis suspended Caruso shortly after the arrest.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier stated, “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.” The attorney general added that the investigation is ongoing and more information will be provided at an appropriate time.

According to his arrest report, Caruso’s ex-wife fabricated the allegations to “poison the child against him.” Investigators say Caruso abused a young relative on multiple occasions beginning in fall 2024, including during a fishing trip, at a Thanksgiving gathering, and aboard a family cruise. The alleged victim is Caruso’s grandson.

The boy’s father discovered the abuse in October after seeing the boy behaving in a sexualized manner with his younger brother. The boy told his father that Caruso had touched him and exposed himself on prior occasions. During a following interview with law enforcement, the boy disclosed additional acts of alleged abuse, including Caruso touching, tickling and “fondling” his penis, touching his buttocks, and exposing his own penis during a Thanksgiving gathering in 2024.

Caruso denied all allegations when confronted on Dec. 6, 2025. He asked if his ex-wife had contacted the boy but acknowledged it was his daughter who accused him of inappropriate behavior, including sexual battery. Caruso also stated he would never try to be alone with the boy and offered to never return to Orange County in exchange for privacy, though he claimed sexual deviancy is directed toward one sex and that he was attracted to women.

Caruso will be held without bail in the Orange County Jail pending his first appearance before a judge. Florida Attorney General Uthmeier noted the state plans to present the case to a grand jury, which could lead to charges under Florida’s execution law for child rapists if convicted by two-thirds of a jury.