Suspended Palm Beach clerk, accused of molesting child, bonds out of Orange County jail
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. —
Suspended Palm Beach County Clerk Michael Caruso posted bond Friday and was released from the Orange County jail.
“No comment. Just happy to be released,” Caruso told reporters as he walked out. “I maintain my innocence completely.”
This comes after a judge granted bond earlier Friday, setting it at $160,000 with conditions including no contact with the alleged victim, the surrender of Caruso’s passport, and an order not to return to Orange County except for court appearances.
Caruso, 67, a former state lawmaker, is accused of repeatedly molesting a young child, including an incident in November 2024 and another on a cruise ship a year ago. The child’s family lives in Orange County, and it was revealed in court that the child would have been about 3 years old during the first alleged instance.
During the hearing, an FDLE agent testified about allegations from other individuals connected to Caruso’s family that reportedly date back years.
Prosecutors also raised prior allegations of similar conduct against Caruso. However, his lawyer challenged the credibility of those claims, getting the agent to confirm that there was no proof the incidents ever occurred.
Caruso’s lawyer also questioned the timeline of the alleged abuse, pointing out that more than a year had passed between the last alleged incident and when law enforcement was contacted.
>> This is a developing story and will be updated as more information is released