Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has stated that Michael Caruso, the man he appointed as Palm Beach County’s clerk of court, could face the ultimate punishment if child sex abuse allegations against him lead to a qualifying conviction.
Caruso, a former Republican state lawmaker and once-trusted ally of DeSantis, was arrested Tuesday on five felony charges involving a child. DeSantis did not hedge when reporters asked about the case, saying his former ally “could be in for a world of hurt.”
The governor pointed directly to a capital punishment law he signed in 2023 that allows Florida prosecutors to seek the death penalty in certain cases involving the sexual battery of a child under 12. DeSantis described Florida as the first state to restore this punishment for child predators and emphasized his pride in signing the law.
DeSantis also noted that Caruso was thoroughly vetted and well regarded at the time of his appointment. However, once state investigators prepared to make the arrest, he stated removing Caruso was an easy decision.
The current charges include kidnapping, lewd or lascivious molestation, lewd or lascivious exhibition, luring or enticing a child, and child abuse causing mental injury. Prosecutors are determining whether to seek capital charges based on evidence and the grand jury process.
Florida’s law requires at least two aggravating factors found unanimously by jurors before a defendant becomes eligible for death. At least eight jurors must then recommend a death sentence. The state enacted this law in direct defiance of existing U.S. Supreme Court precedent against capital punishment for non-homicide child rape convictions, creating potential constitutional challenges if the death penalty is imposed.
Caruso’s appointment took effect August 19, 2025, after he served in the Florida House from 2018 through 2022. He earned a business-administration degree from George Washington University and previously owned a forensic-accounting firm.
The case remains active as Caruso appears before a Palm Beach County judge and is held in custody pending transport to Orange County for trial. His attorney has stated his client is innocent and intends to fight the charges.
