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by GRACE BELLINGHAUSEN | WPEC, AL PEFLEY
PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. (WPEC) — Palm Beach County Clerk of Court and Comptroller Michael Caruso was arrested on five felony charges involving the alleged abuse of a child, according to Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and an arrest affidavit.
Caruso, 67, a former Republican legislator, is accused of kidnapping, lewd or lascivious molestation, lewd or lascivious exhibition, luring or enticing a child, and child abuse causing mental injury. If convicted, he would face a possible life sentence in prison.
Attorney General James Uthmeier announced that Caruso of Lake Park was arrested and faces charges related to child sex abuse.
“Being in a position of public trust provides no shield from accountability,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “Thanks to the thorough investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Office of Statewide Prosecution, this individual will face the full force of the law.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis also immediately suspended Caruso from office following his arrest.
According to the governor’s executive order, Caruso is accused of committing a felony and is prohibited from performing any official duties, receiving pay or allowances or exercising the privileges of his office during the suspension.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is also being directed to assist with Caruso’s transition from the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller’s Office and ensure that Caruso or his staff do not remove files, documents, records, computers or removable storage media from the office.
According to the FDLE affidavit, the alleged victim is a family member and a boy under the age of 12. Investigators say Caruso had regular, unsupervised access to the child because of their family relationship, including time together in Orange County, Palm Beach County, and during a family cruise in August 2025.
The investigation began after the child’s father reportedly observed the child engaging in sexualized behavior with his younger brother in October 2025.
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According to the affidavit, the child then told his father that during a family cruise that Caruso had sexually abused him. The child also reportedly said he showered with him.
The affidavit also describes alleged incidents dating back to 2024.
Investigators say Caruso took the child fishing on multiple occasions when the two were alone. During one outing, the child allegedly told investigators that Caruso touched him inappropriately.
On Thanksgiving Day 2024, the child allegedly said Caruso was alone with him while they were playing soccer and fondled him, exposed himself and touched the child during what the child described as a game called “tickle monster.”
The affidavit details a seven-day Royal Caribbean cruise aboard the Icon of the Seas that Caruso purchased for members of his family in 2025.
Investigators say the cruise departed PortMiami on Aug. 24, 2025, and returned on Aug. 29. The child was aboard with his parents, uncles, Caruso, and other family members.
According to the affidavit, Caruso separated the child from his parents during the cruise under the pretext of taking him to get ice cream. Investigators say the child was away from his parents with Caruso for at least an hour and was not taken to get ice cream.
The child later allegedly told investigators that Caruso showered with him and sexually assaulted him during the cruise.
The affidavit also says Caruso was confronted about the allegations in December 2025.
Investigators say Caruso acknowledged taking the child fishing and isolating him during the cruise, but denied sexually abusing him. According to the affidavit, Caruso also referenced previous allegations made by his daughter and told his son, in substance, that if the allegations were reported, he would be arrested and go to jail.
Investigators later conducted a recorded meeting between Caruso and his son in the spring of 2026. The affidavit says the conversation corroborated details about Caruso being away with the child for an extended period during the cruise and returning with wet, combed hair.
The child began receiving therapeutic services in April 2026. According to investigators, a therapist told the family the child was exhibiting responses consistent with trauma, and the child continues to receive psychological care.
The affidavit states that investigators believe the alleged conduct resulted in mental injury to the child.
Based on the investigation, FDLE Special Agent Reuben Roach wrote that there was probable cause to believe Caruso engaged in an ongoing course of conduct beginning in Orange County in 2024 and culminating during the cruise in international waters.
The arrest warrant lists five felony charges: kidnapping, lewd or lascivious molestation, lewd or lascivious exhibition, luring or enticing a child, and child abuse causing mental injury. The warrant states a judge found probable cause for the charges.
"It's disgusting, absolutely, because, you know, I pay taxes, and you know, you trust these people," said Troy Applegate, a West Palm Beach resident we spoke with outside the Palm Beach County Courthouse.
"I don't know anything about it firsthand and I don't think people should be judged without all the facts but I'm a mother and grandmother and never think a child should be victimized," said Libby Sullivan, another West Palm Beach resident who happened to be at the Palm Beach County Courthouse Tuesday.
The case is being prosecuted by Special Counsel Rita Peters and Senior Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Lauryn Day in the Ninth Judicial Circuit.
Caruso will be held without bond pending his first appearance, and authorities say the investigation remains ongoing with more charges expected.
"This is not a slam dunk case," said Dave Aronberg, former Palm Beach County State Attorney who is now an attorney in private practice in West Palm Beach. "This is a very disturbing series of allegations and it still needs to be investigated further because the key for prosecutors is to develop corroboration and right now law enforcement believes they have probable cause and probable cause is a long way from beyond a reasonable doubt. So there are a lot more details that are gonna have to be filled in before this case goes to trial."
Caruso is expected to have an initial court appearance Wednesday morning in Palm Beach County.
This is a developing story. CBS12 News is working to learn more about the charges, the investigation, and what happens next.
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