Palm Beach County Clerk of Court Michael Caruso, a former Republican state legislator who previously backed the death penalty for adults convicted of sexually battering children under 12, was arrested Tuesday on five felony child sex abuse charges.
The 67-year-old married father of seven, who was appointed by Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, faces five felony counts: kidnapping, child molestation, lewd exhibition, luring or enticing a child and child abuse causing mental injury, an arrest affidavit shows.
Investigators in Florida say Caruso violated a child—who is a relative—and allege the abuse occurred multiple times from fall 2024 to August 2025, including on a family cruise, a fishing outing and during a Thanksgiving gathering. The child has been receiving therapeutic services since April 2026, according to the police affidavit.
Its always the ones you most suspect.
113 Comments
Perky@fedia.io · 117 pts · 14d
The rare case of a leopard eating its own face.
sik0fewl@piefed.ca · 14 pts · 14d
Hoisted by his own petard.
anomnom@sh.itjust.works · 9 pts · 14d
Only if he gets the death penalty.
QueenHawlSera@piefed.social · 91 pts · 14d
I notice he still isn't a trans person or a drag queen.
ChickenLadyLovesLife@lemmy.world · 74 pts · 14d
Dude has an iron-clad defense, though. Said it's only abuse if the child is the same sex and he likes women/girls. I really wish I were making that up.
Edit: wow, I actually totally misunderstood his absurd defense. He actually said "sexual deviancy is directed towards one sex rather than two" and since he's attracted to women (when the victim here was a boy) he can't possibly be a sex offender. I think we've finally found something so far gone that even MAGAts can't support it.
TheKingBombOmbKiller@lemmy.zip · 18 pts · 14d
Not that I don't believe you, but do you have a source for that? It's so outrageous I need to see it myself.
ChickenLadyLovesLife@lemmy.world · 25 pts · 14d
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/UhKkcYv3GoY
TrickDacy@lemmy.world · 16 pts · 14d
🤢 That is one of the most disgusting claims I've seen. I'm normally against the death penalty but scum like this makes me question my stance.
chewypoops@lemmy.world · 19 pts · 14d
I mean, he himself called for people like him to face the death penalty. I am anti death penalty, but I am also in favor of medically assisted suicide for those who fully consent, so if he's opting-in I say let's do it.
Sassinake@mastodon.social · 0 pts · 13d
@chewypoops @TrickDacy Emasculation.
chewypoops@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 12d
Pedophiles are one far extreme of the pervert spectrum, but people like you who fantasize about sexually mutilating pedophiles are just another far extreme on that spectrum. Discuss these dark thoughts with your therapist instead of airing out your sick fantasies in public.
M137@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 13d
Yeah, it's normal to generally be against it but some people just don't fit into that. It should be reserved for the most evil people.
TheKingBombOmbKiller@lemmy.zip · 6 pts · 14d
Thanks! Also, gross!
benjirenji@slrpnk.net · 17 pts · 14d
Not only a pedophile but also a sexist. But somehow that makes it better in Republican eyes.
Naive@lemmy.world · -31 pts · 14d
What else can we expect? if you have read The Handmaid's Tale, the authorities there were the most corrupt. Republicans and far right folks want to make USA what it was in The Handmaid's Tale. Wokes too are so bending towards the Islamists that they too will end up making USA a sharia state.
benjirenji@slrpnk.net · 26 pts · 14d
I never see leftists embrace Sharia-like rules or laws. The only 'fuzzy' thing is headscarves that seem to be understood as both an expression of religion and an instrument of oppression. Besides this contradictory feature I don't see any move towards Islamic rule.
Do you?
Naive@lemmy.world · -16 pts · 13d
Yes
Strawberry@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 8 pts · 13d
Never was a truer username chosen
Naive@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 12d
thanks
VindictiveJudge@lemmy.world · 16 pts · 14d
I was with you until that last sentence.
Naive@lemmy.world · -22 pts · 14d
Never mind. These political labels are too small for me.
BillCheddar@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 13d
0/10 trollpoints
Naive@lemmy.world · -1 pts · 12d
well cannot beat the biggest trolls in the governments
mojofrododojo@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 13d
wow, it's not enough that one party is literally CHOCK FULLA PEDOS, no it's gotta be both somehow, even though the evidence CLEARLY POINTS IN ONE DIRECTION.
https://goppredator.com/
https://www.dscc.org/article/icymi-unreal-number-of-sex-scandal-republican-candidates-exposed-daily-beast/
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2022/04/from-hastert-to-gaetz-lets-talk-about-republicans-and-sex-crimes.html
show me the evidence for the left pushing sharia law. show me, or admit you're fucking wrong.
Naive@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 12d
there is no such thing as absolute right and wrong.
mojofrododojo@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 11d
Damn bro. Protecting pedophiles?
That's how far you'll go for the gop? When you know they're sex criminals, you'll still defend them?
sick
Regrettable_incident@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 13d
Wait - you're trying to say that the left is actually hard right? Because Sharia is pretty undeniably very conservative. Actually, The Handmaid's Tale fits much more closely with what republicans want. I think maybe you're a bit confused mate.
Naive@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 12d
maybe I am cuz everything is so confusing and like from what I heard from right wing is that the left deliberately hid the grooming gang cases to appease Islamists and like in UK, it is left that allowed ikhwanis in the British universities. They hate west.
phutatorius@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 7d
It's a safe bet that anything you heard from the right is bullshit or warmed-over hasbara.
I live in the UK. The police used woke as an excuse for their own incompetence in investigating the grooming gangs.
I know a lot of British Muslims. None are Ikhwaan.
The only people burning down other people's homes over here are white rightwingers.
Naive@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 7d
First time meeting a brit who is not right wing. Check your DMs here in Lemmy.
TryingToBeGood@reddthat.com · 7 pts · 14d
holy shit....
Pollo_Jack@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 13d
Hang him
breezeblock@lemmy.ca · 72 pts · 14d
It’s what he would have wanted…
dylanmorgan@slrpnk.net · 68 pts · 14d
I’m against the death penalty except for people who advocate it’s use in punishing crimes they are guilty of.
chiliedogg@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 14d
He called for death penalty for sexual abuse of children under 12. Weird that he picked that age, specifically...
Nollij@sopuli.xyz · 1 pts · 13d
There are a few states that have similar terms. I suppose the idea is that if the victim hasn't reached puberty, it's more devastating?
Canconda@lemmy.ca · 6 pts · 13d
I'm against it being used against the working class.
However billionares/politicians that use their power to undermine justice, subvert democracy, and avoid punishment for their own crimes, cannot be reformed and need to be made an example of.
Regrettable_incident@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 13d
I'm absolutely against it until we have a 100% reliable method of proving guilt. There are definitely some people who shouldn't be breathing air, but I don't trust the legal system to apply this penalty fairly and correctly in every case. Also, if we absolutely knew someone was guilty there's no need for such a prolonged appeals process - take em down to the courthouse basement and bolt gun their head like a farm animal.
BananaIsABerry@lemmy.zip · 5 pts · 14d
Damn, the death penalty for hypocrisy is intense.
Canconda@lemmy.ca · 4 pts · 13d
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazen_bull
brownsugga@lemmy.world · 52 pts · 14d
Someone once posted a heroic comment, they broke down all politicians by party who had been convicted of sex crimes with children .... it was pretty one sided
Malyca@lemmy.zip · 20 pts · 14d
I saw the list on Reddit, pages. Endless pages.
WanderWisley@lemmy.world · 34 pts · 14d
It’s always the ones who you suspect.
arin@lemmy.world · 16 pts · 14d
and not the ones they tell you to fear
captainlezbian@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 14d
The people who benefit most from people believing that pedophiles are typically members of a specific minority group are pedophiles who aren't members of that group
Lushed_Lungfish@lemmy.ca · 27 pts · 14d
Nope. I disagree.
Life in gen pop prison.
BassTurd@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 14d
For however long gen pop decides "life" is. Could be days, could be a torturous number of years. Either way, it should be fucking awful.
Dionysus@leminal.space · 26 pts · 14d
Say it with me...
"Every accusation is a..."
RizzRustbolt@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 13d
Banana!
FuglyDuck@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 14d
Admittance of guilt?
I dunno. I feel like there some mild rhyming you’re looking for.
TryingToBeGood@reddthat.com · 19 pts · 14d
Confession
Snowies@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 14d
Lie?
kesslerpartyatmyplace@anarchist.nexus · 24 pts · 14d
So I'm not for killing every pedophile, but I think killing this one would be too funny. I'll never forgive us if we don't.
Malyca@lemmy.zip · 17 pts · 14d
Killing them puts their victims in danger. If they know they are going to die for the crime, they'll kill the child to keep the secret.
kesslerpartyatmyplace@anarchist.nexus · 13 pts · 14d
Okay but see killing this one would be really funny, so I think we need to. Is the law named after him? I hope it's named after him.
Malyca@lemmy.zip · 5 pts · 14d
Can't help but agree with you
pega_sus@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 14d
Thing is, cons want to label queer people as pedos for existing in public, and then execute them under those laws (its in project 2025) which is why he's pushing that law. With selective enforcement; cons get to marry their victims.
Newhere@lemmy.ml · 1 pts · 13d
How it's possible?
kesslerpartyatmyplace@anarchist.nexus · 1 pts · 13d
They want to kill us no matter what. Fuck that. Call their bluff. Them calling me a pedophile doesn't make me pro pedophile-they want to kill me. Be more than an easily manipulated object.
BillyClark@piefed.social · 22 pts · 14d
I am against the death penalty, but people like this make me want to make special exceptions. Like, only people who publicly call for death sentences for certain crimes, and then go on to commit those crimes. But if I went that far, then I might say that only people who support the death penalty shall be eligible for the death penalty. It's a slippery slope, really. So, I just have to go back to opposing the death penalty, generally.
Delilah@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 12 pts · 14d
Fuck that, if you call for death, you must be willing to die, no slippery slope.
ReptilianCleric@lemmy.zip · 4 pts · 14d
Well, you don't have to give government the authority to murder to sentence this jackass to be incarcerated in general population, as another commenter pointed out.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Zombie@feddit.uk · 10 pts · 14d
A common misbelief about anarchism is that it opposes rules. It doesn't oppose rules though, but rulers. Those who wish to make rules for others.
If this were an anarchist world, which it should be, it would be perfectly fine to create rules for yourself and consensually with others.
Therefore, if he, and the others supporting the death penalty for this crime, choose to apply that standard to themselves then they should face the death penalty. That doesn't mean that punishment therefore applies to everybody else though.
Your logic is fine, no slippery slope.
On a less related note, here's my favourite video debunking the efficacy of the death penalty: https://youtu.be/_DrsVhzbLzU
MehBlah@lemmy.world · 22 pts · 14d
Projection is assumed these days.
Avicenna@programming.dev · 22 pts · 13d
oyzmo@piefed.social · 19 pts · 14d
I though child sex was one of the boxes you had to tick in order to be a up-and-coming Republican 😅 and with Epstein's timeshare shutdown, you have to go rogue to get your badge. .... not serious btw, I'm sure the higher ups already have created a new little tiny sex vacation spot somewhere.
Abyssian@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 14d
Of course it is. That's how people will vote to confirm terrible people for important government positions with tears rolling down their cheeks. They know if they don't all the evidence of only their crimes against children in the clubhouse will become front page news.
SPRUNTnsfw@fedinsfw.app · 19 pts · 14d
It's ALWAYS projection
minorkeys@sh.itjust.works · 18 pts · 13d
Me thinks the righty doth protest too much.
scathliath@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 16 pts · 13d
Complicated method of suicide, but given the circumstances I will allow it.
Ekybio@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 14d
Fork found in kitchen.
AbsolutelyNotAVelociraptor@piefed.social · 13 pts · 14d
Oh... he's just a family man, don't you all see? He's a married father of seven! Maybe he did horrible things to a child (or more than one) but which married father hasn't ever molested repeatedly a minor? Which married father hasn't ever kidnapped a kid? We're all here virtue signaling him when he's just the average (republican) married father... have a little shame you all!
AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 14d
Hell, I'm not even married, and I've kidnapped... I mean I've not kidnapped anybody, but I supposed I could have. If I'd met someone who was into that, I guess... Although it does seem like a lot of work.
TrickDacy@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 14d
Uh, what
BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today · 11 pts · 13d
Indulge him.
FreddiesLantern@leminal.space · 10 pts · 14d
Suicide the long game?
FistingEnthusiast@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 13d
Give him what he wants!
andyburke@fedia.io · 9 pts · 14d
Sentencing should be easy, at least.
MoonRaven@feddit.nl · 8 pts · 14d
Death
Almacca@aussie.zone · 4 pts · 14d
But only for him.
Jiggs@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 14d
Wouldnt that be quite counterproductive, if he was framed?
This showcases dangers of capital punishment in case of false accusations and the pedos got rid of backer.
Almacca@aussie.zone · 3 pts · 14d
Don't take random comments on the internet so seriously. I certainly don't when I make them.
Naive@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 14d
Uno card reverse
Sam_Bass@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 13d
be a good one for that penalty
RichardNixos@lemmy.ml · 7 pts · 14d
It's almost as if wishing death on people is some sort of red flag...
kyTdKZx9PtDQ9e56u06@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 13d
Nah fam. I'm down with legit pedos getting a full reckoning. Its just wishful thinking that this slug will see any justice.
Regrettable_incident@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 13d
Remember that guy a few years ago who walked because he was a white kid from a rich family who 'wouldn't do well in prison'? Yeah, like that.
Found it, this piece of shit.
mojofrododojo@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 13d
which one? there's A SHIT TON.
https://people.com/teen-prominent-family-strangled-raped-women-judge-let-him-go-free-11845008
https://newrepublic.com/post/202993/convicted-child-sex-predator-avoids-prison-thanks-trump-pardon
https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/fact-check-texas-ag-ken-194400815.html
I know there's a bunch more
tigermountain@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 14d
I'd love to see data on all the child sex offenders who've been found guilty over the last 50 years and learn whether they're politically liberal or conservative and what types of jobs they've held. I have a hypothesis and I want to see if the data supports or refutes it.
Nollij@sopuli.xyz · 3 pts · 13d
There's a pretty famous list that would get republished every time one of these stories hit the news. IIRC, it was Republican politicians convicted of child abuse crimes. But I can't seem to find it anywhere right now.
There's a similar list of Democrats. It's about half the size of the other one.
Thebeardedsinglemalt@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 13d
I'll bet I can find more right-wingers/clergy arrested for molestation of children in the last week than I could find drag queens in the history of existence
Return_of_Chippy@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 14d
I mean, yeah, firing squad seems appropriate.
SexualPolytope@lemmy.sdf.org · 7 pts · 14d
Always the ones you most expect.
sensimillagodzilla@lemmy.zip · 7 pts · 14d
Color me surprised /s
SnarkoPolo@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 14d
Does anyone really think any Republican will face justice?
BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 13d
Oh yeah. The next crop of Democrats isn't going to be like the last bunch. They aren't busting down the doors with our votes so they can serve Israel and let MAGA get away with their crimes. They'll be pissed off, and ready to fight anyone who stands in their way, from any party.
UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 14d
Only in Heaven. And even then, everything I've read about the guy upstairs suggests he's fine with this shit.
Abyssian@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 14d
MrSulu@lemmy.ml · 4 pts · 14d
He would be best placed to explain his rationale to fellow inmates on death row.
Modern_medicine_isnt@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 14d
I suppose he is one small step up from the pedophiles that work to change the laws so that pedophilia is legal in some states...
Greyghoster@aussie.zone · 4 pts · 14d
Is Demented Don able pardon him?
Sunflier@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 13d
No, but De Santis could.
Reverendender@sh.itjust.works · 4 pts · 14d
This season’s writing is so on the nose. I don't know if it's believable.
OwOarchist@pawb.social · 7 pts · 14d
Fiction is required to be believable. Reality is under no such restrictions.
kesslerpartyatmyplace@anarchist.nexus · 2 pts · 14d
Subtlety is for cowards.
Regrettable_incident@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 13d
I mean, it's not, otherwise it would be much easier to keep kids safe. But I get what you mean - Republican legislator, vociferously anti-CSA, probably performatively Christian and 'pro-family values' (Meaning discriminates against anything that isn't a straight white CIS family) - you wouldn't want one of those fuckers living within a mile of a school, that's for sure.
Knoxvomica@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 14d
Zink@programming.dev · 2 pts · 14d
If we all work together and put our moves too it, we can prove to Michael that dreams CAN come true!
jumping_redditor@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 14d
leapoard voted for eating everyone's face suprised when face is next to be eaten
phutatorius@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 7d
Hoist by his own pedo-tard?
desmosthenes@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 14d
the irony isn’t lost
Sunflier@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 13d
I think any good prosecutor would know to use his official statements of record at sentencing.
Etterra@discuss.online · 1 pts · 14d
Welp, better dust off the Killamajig™.