Florida Official Arrested on Child Molestation & Kidnapping Charges
Florida Official Arrested on Child Molestation & Kidnapping Charges
Shocking news from Florida: A top official, appointed by Gov. DeSantis, faces serious charges of child molestation and kidnapping. Read the full story on Michael Caruso's arrest.
A high-ranking Florida official, Michael Allen Caruso, 67, appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis, has been arrested on grave charges including child molestation and kidnapping. State authorities confirmed his booking into the Palm Beach County jail earlier this week, following an intensive investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Caruso, who served as Palm Beach County’s clerk of courts and comptroller, faces multiple counts, specifically child abuse, lewd and lascivious exhibition, and luring and enticing a child, in addition to the kidnapping and molestation charges. The seriousness of the allegations prompted Governor DeSantis to issue an executive order, immediately suspending Caruso from his significant public role. Attorney General James Uthmeier underscored the gravity of the situation, stating, "Being in a position of public trust provides no shield from accountability."
The criminal investigation was initiated after a young boy displayed unusual behavior at home, leading his parents to contact law enforcement. Sources close to the probe, as reported by the Miami Herald, indicate the victim was a child under five years old. The arrest affidavit details three distinct incidents alleged to have occurred last year, taking place in varied settings including a soccer game, aboard a cruise ship, and during a fishing trip in Orange County.
Before his appointment to the Palm Beach County clerk position last August—a role overseeing 670 employees and an $80.1 million budget—Caruso had a long public history. He was a certified public accountant, coached Little League for three decades, served on the Delray Beach Police Advisory Board, and was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2018. His annual salary in the clerk position was approximately $219,000. This arrest sends shockwaves through the community and raises serious questions about accountability for those in positions of power.
