Josh Helfgott

BREAKING He voted to let Florida EXECUTE child sex abusers. Now Ron DeSantis’ appointee is jailed without bond, accused of sexually abusing his own grandson.

Mike Caruso, 67, is facing FIVE felony charges of kidnapping, molestation, and child abuse.

In 2023, the Republican voted for the Florida law allowing prosecutors to seek the death penalty against adults convicted of sexually battering children under 12.

Then came the allegations against Caruso himself…

Six days after DeSantis appointed him in August 2025, Caruso left on a family cruise with his grandson and other relatives.

Caruso allegedly told the boy’s parents he was taking their son to get ice cream. The two disappeared from the family for at least an hour.

His grandson later said Caruso sexually assaulted him in a shower. Asked to describe what happened, the boy called it “nasty.”

He also described abuse months earlier, saying Caruso molested him while they were alone on a fishing trip and again while playing “tickle monster” outside around Thanksgiving 2024.

After the allegations came out, the boy’s father — Caruso’s son — confronted his dad.

Caruso denied abusing his grandson. But he then allegedly told his son: “If you tell anyone I will get arrested. I will just go away. You tell anyone I’m going to jail.”

Exactly one year to the day after DeSantis appointed him, Caruso was arrested.

He remains jailed without bond.