DeSantis-suspended clerk in child sex abuse case gets bond, to be released from jail

Suspended Palm Beach County Clerk of Courts Mike Caruso was ordered to be released from jail Friday after a lengthy hearing in Orlando, where he is accused of child sex abuse.

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Circuit Judge A. James Craner ordered Caruso’s release on $160,000 bail as he awaits trial on allegations he molested a young relative.

Caruso, 67, a former state legislator and Gov. DeSantis GOP appointee to the clerk of courts post, has pleaded not guilty to charges of lewd or lascivious molestation, kidnapping, lewd or lascivious exhibition, child abuse and luring or enticing a child. He has been in jail since his arrest by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement on Aug. 18.

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Wearing blue jail garb and handcuffs, Caruso was told to surrender his passport and any firearms, according to Orange County court documents.

Caruso is forbidden from Orange County, where his accuser lives, but can return to Palm Beach County, where he and his wife, Tracy Caruso, 55, live, and where he is on the ballot in November to retain this seat. He faces Democrat Yvette Drucker, a Boca Raton city council member. Caruso’s address in court documents is an oceanfront condo on Singer Island in Riviera Beach.

Read more DeSantis-suspended clerk in child sex abuse ordered released from jail

Statewide prosecutors had requested that Caruso be detained until his trial, arguing that he was dangerous, a possible flight risk and that the victim’s family was frightened. The child at the center of the allegations was under 5.

But the judge rejected the arguments.

Caruso’s communications consultant, Juda Engelmayer, announced Wednesday that attorney Donna Rotunno would join the defense team, and she appeared at Friday’s hearing. Both Engelmayer and Rotunno were on Harvey Weinstein’s team, when he unsuccessfully fought charges of sexual assault.

Engelmayer did not immediately respond to questions about Caruso’s political intentions.

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DeSantis suspended Caruso when he was arrested. Tracy Caruso resigned this week from boards the governor had appointed her to; she said she’ll stand by her husband.

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This story is developing and will be updated.

This story was originally published August 28, 2026 at 3:08 PM.