Former Florida Lawmaker Arrested on Child Abuse Charges

Michael Allen Caruso, a former member of the Florida House of Representatives and ally of Governor Ron DeSantis, was arrested on August 18, 2026, on charges including kidnapping and molestation of a child. Caruso, 67, was taken into custody at the Palm Beach County jail early Tuesday morning. According to the Miami Herald, he is accused of molesting a boy under the age of five on multiple occasions last year. The allegations came to light after the child exhibited concerning behavior, prompting his family to contact law enforcement. Caruso has previously faced allegations of child sex abuse, which he denied, and has been reported to the Florida Department of Children and Families multiple times. Following his arrest, DeSantis suspended Caruso from his position as Palm Beach County’s clerk of courts, a role he was appointed to by the governor in August 2025. As of now, no defense attorney has been publicly identified for Caruso, and he has not made a public statement regarding the allegations.