UPDATE AT 7:45 p.m. — Mike Caruso’s booking photo was just processed.
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2026 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — Mike Caruso, the suspended Palm Beach County Clerk of Courts, is now in the Orange County jail. He was extradited from Palm Beach County early Wednesday and booked into Orange County’s lockup Wednesday afternoon. His booking photo has yet to be processed.
As we reported on Tuesday, Caruso was arrested by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and charged with multiple counts of sexually abusing his grandchild — both in a home in Orange County and on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis immediately suspended Caruso. He was replaced by Deputy Clerk Shannon Ramsey-Chessman who was sworn-in on Tuesday morning.
Caruso, a Republican, was running for re-election to his post at the time of his arrest. He was appointed to the job by Gov. DeSantis when former clerk Joe Abruzzo became Palm Beach County Administrator.
We are republishing the affidavit of probable cause, below. We again warn anyone who has not yet read it that it is exceptionally graphic.
We remind readers that charges filed by law enforcement agencies are allegations and that all criminal defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. We also remind readers that civil court filings are allegations made by the party filing suit. The validity of those allegations will be determined in court. If you are the subject of reporting that you believe is inaccurate, please email us immediately at clarification@bocanewsnow.com.
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