DeSantis suspends ally charged with abusing own grandson

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Palm Beach County Clerk of Court Michael Caruso has been arrested as part of a child sexual abuse investigation involving his own grandson, according to an executive order issued by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued the order on Tuesday, which suspends Caruso from his position effective immediately.

Per that order, 67-year-old Caruso is accused of sexually abusing his grandson, who is less than 12 years old and lives in Orange County with the rest of his family.

“During the period charged, Caruso enjoyed regular and unsupervised access to (the) victim by virtue of his position as a family member, including periods alone with the child in Orange County, in Palm Beach County, and aboard a family vacation in August 2025,” the order reads.

https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2026/08/19/gov-desantis-suspends-florida-clerk-of-court-accused-of-sexually-abusing-his-grandson/

According to the arrest affidavit, the alleged abuse went on for about a year stemming back to 2024 and Caruso was known to the family.

“The family is devastated. The amount of betrayal that his actions caused was life-shattering,” Lisa Haba said. “My client, at all times that he was being victimized, was between 3 and 5 years old; he was a young boy, he was prepubescent.”

The affidavit details a series of alleged incidents. During a fishing trip, Caruso was alone with the child and allegedly fondled him. On Thanksgiving, Caruso allegedly touched the child again and exposed himself. The abuse allegedly escalated further on a cruise, where he told the family he was going to take the child to get ice cream but instead took a shower with the boy and sexually assaulted him.

The affidavit states the child has been receiving therapy since April because of trauma from the alleged incidents.

https://www.wflx.com/2026/08/19/seeking-justice-attorney-says-alleged-caruso-victim-was-between-3-5-years-old/

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