ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Suspended Palm Beach Clerk of Court Mike Caruso was released on a $160,000 bond Friday after spending more than a week in the Orange County Jail on child sex abuse charges.
“I maintain my innocence completely,” Caruso said to news crews waiting outside the jail. When asked why a child would make up an allegation against him, Caruso said. “I don’t know.”
Caruso was arrested on August 18th in South Florida on five felony counts, including kidnapping, lewd or lascivious molestation, lewd or lascivious exhibition, luring or enticing a child, and child abuse causing mental injury. He is accused of abusing a child under the age of 12 on two separate occasions.
After appearing before a Palm Beach judge, Caruso was extradited to Orange County, where he remained in jail for more than a week.
Caruso was allowed to post bond after a judge said the criminal complaint lacked key details on when the alleged crimes were reported to law enforcement. Conditions of Caruso’s bond included surrendering his passport and his guns, not having any contact with the victim, and not visiting Orange County, except for court appearances. He does not have to wear a GPS monitor.
“I’ll be leaving Orange County for sure,” Caruso told reporters moments after he bonded out of jail.
Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Caruso, a former state lawmaker, to the Clerk of Court position. DeSantis suspended him from that position immediately after his arrest. When asked about Caruso on August 19, one day after Caruso’s arrest, DeSantis said Caruso received high marks at the time.
“He was highly recommended for this position down in Palm Beach County,” DeSantis said. “He had a clean vet.”
Caruso’s arraignment is scheduled for September in Orange County.
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