Palm Beach County Clerk of Court Mike Caruso, a close political ally of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, has been arrested and charged with multiple felony counts, including kidnapping, child molestation, lewd exhibition, luring or enticing a child, and child abuse causing mental injury. The charges stem from alleged incidents involving a child relative.
According to court documents, the alleged victim told Orange County law enforcement that Caruso molested him during family gatherings. One incident described in the documents occurred in August 2025, when Caruso allegedly took the child away from other family members on a seven-day Royal Caribbean cruise, claiming he was going to get ice cream. The alleged abuse came to light in October 2025 after the victim began exhibiting concerning behavior toward his younger brother, the boy's father reported.
When confronted by the victim's father in December 2025, Caruso denied the allegations and allegedly threatened his own family, stating, "If you tell anyone I will get arrested. I will just go away. You tell anyone I’m going to jail," according to court documents.
Caruso, 67, who is also a former state legislator, was appointed Palm Beach County Clerk of Court and Comptroller by DeSantis in August 2025. He had been a steadfast legislative ally of the governor, notably casting the lone vote against an immigration package opposed by DeSantis in 2025, a decision that resulted in the loss of a committee chairmanship.
Following Caruso's arrest, DeSantis signed an executive order suspending him from public office. Caruso was taken to Orange County Jail and is being held without bond. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier indicated that additional charges could be filed as the investigation continues.
At a press conference Tuesday, DeSantis addressed the arrest, stating that if Caruso is convicted, "he’s gonna be in for a world of hurt." The governor referenced Florida's 2023 law, which allows prosecutors to seek the death penalty for capital sexual battery of a child under 12, though the current charges do not appear to fall under that specific statute. DeSantis added, "We’re one of the first states to reintroduce the death penalty for pedophiles."