Palm Beach Clerk of Court Faces Child Sex Abuse Charges
According to a report from NBC 6 South Florida, the Palm Beach County Clerk of Court and Comptroller is facing felony child sex abuse charges. Michael Caruso was arrested with substantial assistance from Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and local law enforcement. Here, our West Palm Beach civil sexual assault lawyer provides a more comprehensive overview of the allegations and the charges.
Palm Beach County Official Faces Extremely Serious Sex Crimes Allegations
As confirmed by reporting from NBC 6 South Florida, Palm Beach County Clerk of Court and Comptroller Michael Caruso was arrested and is facing multiple felony charges related to the alleged sexual abuse of a child. According to an arrest affidavit cited by NBC 6 South Florida investigators allege that Mr. Caruso sexually abused a child younger than 12 on multiple occasions during nearly a two-year period. The charges include kidnapping, molestation, lewd or lascivious exhibition, luring or enticing a child, and child abuse. To be clear, the allegations have not been proven in court. As with all defendants, Mr. Caruso is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier stated that FDLE and local law enforcement provided substantial assistance in the investigation. FDLE has said that the investigation remains ongoing. Notably, following the arrest, Governor Ron DeSantis suspended Caruso from his position as clerk in Palm Beach County.
A Civil Sexual Abuse Claim Is Separate From the Criminal Case
For victims and families, it is important to understand that a criminal prosecution and a civil sexual abuse claim serve different purposes. Prosecutors bring criminal charges on behalf of the state and seek criminal penalties. A civil lawsuit is brought by or on behalf of the victim and seeks compensation for the harm caused by the abuse.
A survivor therefore does not necessarily have to wait for the criminal case to end before considering civil options. A criminal conviction is also not always required to pursue civil liability. Depending on the facts, potential civil claims may include intentional tort claims directly against the person accused of abuse.
Notably, victims of sex abuse may also have a civil claim against a negligent third party. A school, religious organization, youth organization, employer, property owner, or other third party entity may potentially bear civil legal responsibility for the sexual misconduct.
Florida Law Gives Childhood Abuse Survivors Special Time to Pursue Certain Civil Claims
Families should also understand that ordinary personal injury deadlines do not necessarily control a child sex abuse case. Florida has enacted special statutes of limitations recognizing that children may be unable to disclose or fully understand abuse until years later. Under Fla. Stat. § 95.11(8), certain intentional tort actions founded on abuse may be filed within seven years after the victim reaches adulthood, four years after the victim leaves the dependency of the abuser, or four years after the victim discovers both the injury and its connection to the abuse, whichever occurs later.
Contact Our West Palm Beach Civil Sexual Attorney Today
At Pike & Lustig, LLP, our West Palm Beach civil sexual assault lawyer is a compassionate, experienced advocate for justice. If you have any questions about a sexual assault case, we are here to help. Call us now or connect with us online to set up a free, confidential case evaluation. From our office in West Palm Beach and our office in Miami, we fight for victims throughout South Florida.
Source:
nbcmiami.com/news/local/palm-beach-clerk-of-court-michael-caruso-arrested-charges-child-sex-abuse/3847354/
