Overview
- State authorities arrested Mike Caruso on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, charging him with five felonies that include kidnapping, lewd or lascivious molestation, lewd or lascivious exhibition, luring a child, and child abuse causing mental injury.
- The arrest affidavit says the alleged victim was a family member boy under 12 and describes multiple incidents from 2024 through a family cruise in August 2025 that prompted a months-long FDLE investigation.
- Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended Caruso the day of the arrest and Shannon Ramsey-Chessman was sworn in as interim clerk while FDLE oversees the transition to secure office records and systems.
- Caruso was held without bond, denied an extradition bond request, and was transported to Orange County for prosecution where Special Counsel Rita Peters and Senior Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Lauryn Day are handling the case.
- The defense says Caruso is innocent and will fight the charges, prosecutors say more counts may follow, and advocates and the child’s attorney have raised concerns that released documents failed to fully protect the victim’s identity.