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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) appointed Michael Allen Caruso last August to serve as Palm Beach County’s clerk of courts and comptroller. Caruso was arrested yesterday on charges of molestation, kidnapping, luring and enticing a child, lewd and lascivious exhibition, and child abuse early yesterday morning, according to an arrest affidavit reported upon by The Miami Herald.
Investigators say that Caruso sexually molested the child, a male relative under the age of five, several times last year. Caruso allegedly exposed himself to the kid while playing soccer and then played “tickle monster” with him to touch his buttocks and genitals later that day. During a cruise, he allegedly put his penis in the child’s mouth after telling his parents that the two were going to get ice cream. He also reportedly fondled the boy’s penis during a fishing trip.
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The boy subsequently acted out sexually at home, leading his parents to question him. The parents then contact the police, and also asked Caruso about the allegations; he denied them but begged them not to tell others under fear of arrest and jail time.
Caruso’s job as DeSantis’ appointee paid $219,000 a year and oversaw a staff of 670 with an annual budget of around $80 million. A few hours his arrest, DeSantis issued an executive order suspending him from public office.
Caruso coached Little League baseball for 30 years and volunteered for the Boy Scouts for eight.