Palm Beach County Clerk Michael Caruso Arrested on Five Felony Child Sex Abuse Charges, Suspended by DeSantis
WEST PALM BEACH — Michael Caruso, the Palm Beach County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller and a former Florida state representative, has been arrested on five felony charges involving allegations of sexual abuse of a young child, triggering his immediate suspension from office and a rapidly expanding criminal investigation.
Caruso, 67, was arrested Tuesday and initially held in Palm Beach County before being transferred to Orange County, where the criminal case originated. During his first appearance Wednesday, a Palm Beach County judge refused a defense request for an extradition bond and ordered Caruso held without bond while awaiting transfer. He has since been extradited to the Orange County Jail.
The allegations are extraordinarily serious, but they remain allegations. Caruso has denied wrongdoing, and his attorney, Jason Weiss, said his client is innocent and intends to “vigorously defend himself” against the charges. No determination of guilt has been made.
Five Felony Charges Filed in Orange County
According to the arrest warrant and affidavit filed in Orange County Circuit Court, Caruso faces five felony charges: kidnapping, lewd or lascivious molestation, lewd or lascivious exhibition, luring or enticing a child, and child abuse causing mental injury. That list differs slightly from some early reports describing two molestation counts; the more recent court-based reporting identifies one molestation count and one lewd or lascivious exhibition charge.
The case involves a male relative who was under 12 when the alleged conduct occurred. WPTV reported that an attorney representing the alleged victim’s family said the child was between 3 and 5 years old during the relevant period. Because the case involves a minor and allegations of sexual abuse, South Florida Media is not identifying the child.
Authorities allege the conduct stretched across multiple incidents beginning in late 2024 and continuing into 2025. Local 10 reported that the arrest warrant describes alleged sexual activity around Thanksgiving 2024 and again during a family cruise in August 2025. Court documents reviewed by WPTV describe multiple incidents spanning nearly a year and say the child later disclosed the alleged abuse during a recorded interview with Orange County law enforcement.
Family Cruise Became a Major Part of the Investigation
The August 2025 family cruise appears to be a significant component of the criminal investigation. According to reporting based on the arrest documents, investigators allege Caruso separated the child from other relatives during the trip before an incident occurred in a cruise ship stateroom. Court documents further allege that when family members confronted Caruso in December 2025, he made partial admissions while also making threatening statements about what could happen if the allegations were reported. Caruso has denied the criminal allegations.
The child has reportedly been receiving therapeutic services since April 2026. Authorities have emphasized that the investigation remains active, meaning the five charges currently filed may not necessarily represent the final scope of the case.
Judge Orders Caruso Held Without Bond
Caruso appeared Wednesday at the Palm Beach County Criminal Justice Complex in prison clothing, handcuffs and shackles. His attorney handled most of the brief hearing while Caruso largely remained silent. The judge denied a request that would have allowed Caruso to remain outside jail while awaiting transfer to Orange County, citing the nature and extent of the charges.
The court also imposed a sweeping no contact order. Caruso is prohibited from contacting the alleged victim, members of the immediate family, witnesses and anyone under 18, according to WPTV. The Palm Beach County judge stressed that the hearing was related to Caruso’s transfer and was not itself a determination of probable cause on the Orange County charges. Caruso was subsequently transferred to Orange County, where the prosecution will proceed.
DeSantis Suspended His Own Appointee Within Hours
The political fallout was immediate. Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended Caruso from the clerk’s office following the arrest, stripping him of his authority to perform official duties and suspending his government salary and allowances while the order remains in effect. The connection between the two men is significant because DeSantis personally appointed Caruso to the Palm Beach County position almost exactly one year before his arrest. On Aug. 18, 2025, the governor announced Caruso’s appointment as Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, effective the following day. Caruso had previously represented Palm Beach County in the Florida House beginning in 2018.
Speaking after the arrest, DeSantis called suspending Caruso an easy decision and pointed to Florida’s severe penalties for people convicted of sexually abusing children. The arrest also creates an extraordinary political contradiction. While serving in the Florida Legislature, Caruso supported legislation establishing capital sexual battery and permitting the death penalty for certain sexual battery offenses involving children under 12. The existence of that law does not mean Caruso is currently facing the death penalty; whether a case qualifies depends on the specific offense charged and facts ultimately established in court.
Shannon Ramsey Chessman Takes Control of the Clerk’s Office
Palm Beach County moved quickly to prevent the arrest from disrupting one of the county’s most important constitutional offices. Shannon Ramsey Chessman, previously the clerk’s chief of staff and chief deputy clerk, was sworn in as interim clerk following Caruso’s suspension.
The Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller oversees an enormous amount of sensitive public infrastructure, including court records and significant financial and administrative responsibilities. WPTV reported that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is overseeing the transition and working to ensure that no files or records are removed from the clerk’s office. The Clerk’s Office has said its commitment to serving Palm Beach County remains unchanged despite the upheaval.
The Arrest Creates Another Problem: The November Election
Caruso was not merely occupying the office as a temporary appointee. He was seeking to remain Palm Beach County clerk through the upcoming election. His arrest and suspension therefore create a separate election law question over what happens to his candidacy. WPTV reported Wednesday that Caruso had been scheduled to face Democrat Yvette Drucker in November and that the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections was awaiting state guidance on how to proceed.
That means Palm Beach County could now face three overlapping processes involving the same elected office: a felony prosecution in Orange County, an executive suspension ordered by the governor and an unresolved November election.
A Major South Florida Public Official Is Now Facing a Criminal Case
The significance of the case extends beyond Caruso’s political career. The Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller is an institution directly embedded in the administration of Florida’s justice system. The person who occupied that office is now himself incarcerated and facing five felony charges in another Florida judicial circuit.
There is also a critical distinction between the severity of an accusation and proof of guilt. Arrest warrants and affidavits contain allegations assembled by investigators to establish the legal basis for criminal charges. They are not verdicts. Prosecutors will ultimately have to prove the charges in court, and Caruso is entitled to the presumption of innocence.
For Palm Beach County, however, the institutional consequences have already begun. Caruso has been arrested, removed from the day to day operation of the clerk’s office, replaced on an interim basis and transferred to Orange County while the investigation continues. The next major developments will come from Orange County, where questions surrounding bond, formal prosecution and the evidence supporting the allegations will move into the courtroom.
Sources
WPLG Local 10 — Caruso Held Without Bond on Child Sex Abuse Charges
WPTV — Caruso Extradited to Orange County Jail
Executive Office of Gov. Ron DeSantis — 2025 Appointment of Mike Caruso
CBS News Miami — Caruso Arrested and Suspended
WFLX — Palm Beach County Clerk Arrested on Child Sex Abuse Charges
