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Palm Beach County Clerk Michael Caruso arrested on child sexual abuse charges

newsAug 18, 2026256,813

Palm Beach County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller Michael Caruso was arrested Tuesday on five felony counts related to alleged child sexual abuse and kidnapping, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said. Uthmeier said the arrest was made with substantial assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and local authorities and that being in public trust provides no shield from accountability. Authorities, citing an arrest warrant, say the victim is under 12 and known to Caruso and alleges Caruso engaged in sexual activity with the child on two occasions, once around Thanksgiving 2024 and again during a family cruise in August 2025. Caruso, 67, of Riviera Beach, was immediately suspended from office by Governor Ron DeSantis and is barred from performing official acts or receiving pay while suspended. Jail records list charges including kidnapping, lewd or lascivious molestation, lewd or lascivious exhibition, luring or enticing a child, and child abuse involving mental injury; he is to be transported to the Orange County Corrections Department and held without bond pending a first appearance scheduled for Wednesday at 10 a.m. Lisa Haba, the victim’s attorney, said the arrest marks a decisive line in the sand and pledged to make sure the survivor’s voice is heard through the process. Caruso was appointed to the clerk post last August and was seeking re-election to the office at the time of his arrest.

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Michael Allen Caruso is accused of kidnapping and molesting a child younger than 5.

571645d ago
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