PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — Palm Beach County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller Michael Caruso was arrested early Tuesday on charges related to child sexual abuse, according to Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier.
Uthmeier announced the arrest through his verified Facebook account, stating that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and local law-enforcement agencies provided substantial assistance.
The Attorney General said the investigation remains ongoing and that additional information will be released at an appropriate time.
PBSO booking record
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office booking search identifies him as Michael Allen Caruso, booking number 2026022531. The record says he was booked at 8:48 a.m. on August 18, 2026, and lists the arresting agency as “99-OTHER.”
Under the charge field, PBSO lists Florida Statute 901.15(4) and “OUT-OF-COUNTY WARRANT.” The record shows a $0 original bond and $0 current bond at the time the search result was retrieved. It also lists jacket number 0570466 and says there was no hold for another agency.
The PBSO entry does not identify the underlying criminal counts or describe the alleged conduct referenced by the Attorney General. JM Audits will update this report when the charging documents or additional official records become available.
Caruso's role in Palm Beach County
Caruso has served as Palm Beach County's Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller since August 2025, when Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed him to replace Joseph Abruzzo. Before the appointment, Caruso served seven years in the Florida House of Representatives.
According to the Clerk's official biography, Caruso oversees nearly 650 employees and a $76 million annual operating budget. The constitutional office maintains court and public records and serves as Palm Beach County's chief financial officer, treasurer and auditor.
The Attorney General's announcement did not describe the present status of Caruso's office or identify who would perform his duties following the arrest.
Important: An arrest is not a conviction. Caruso is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.