Overview
- Authorities arrested Mike Caruso and charged him on Tuesday with five felonies — kidnapping, lewd or lascivious molestation, lewd or lascivious exhibition, luring or enticing a child, and child abuse causing mental injury — after an FDLE investigation produced a judge‑signed probable‑cause affidavit.
- The affidavit alleges the victim was a family member under the age of 12 and describes multiple incidents beginning in late 2024 and culminating during a family cruise in August 2025.
- Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an immediate executive suspension that bars Caruso from duties and pay and ordered FDLE to prevent removal of office records and devices; Special Counsel Rita Peters and Lauryn Day are prosecuting the case.
- Victim advocates and the child’s attorney criticized the state for releasing affidavit details they say risk identifying the child, and the child has been in therapy since April 2026 for symptoms consistent with trauma.
- The arrest has raised questions about prior reports to the Department of Children and Families and the governor’s vetting process, and prosecutors say the investigation is active with more charges possible while Caruso is held without bond.