Posted on: December 2, 2024, 07:36h.

Last updated on: December 2, 2024, 07:36h.

A man who has been convicted 44 times is in jail again after he allegedly stole an envelope filled with cash from a woman’s purse at the Resorts Atlantic City casino.

Michael Taylor, 65, who was homeless at the time of the theft, swiped the money while the victim was near a slot machine in the Atlantic City gaming property last month, according to New Jersey Deputy Attorney General Nicole Wise.

The purse was on the victim’s arm when the theft took place. The incident was captured on casino surveillance video, BreakingAC.com, a local news site, reported.

Police were able to identify Taylor as the suspect. He was arrested, appeared in court last week, and remains in custody at the Atlantic County Justice Facility.

Taylor began getting arrested in 1978 when he was just 19. Among his previous 44 convictions are 36 theft charges, prosecutors revealed.

In July, he completed a three-year sentence at New Jersey’s South Woods State Prison. He had been convicted for a dozen theft by unlawful taking cases, BreakingAC.com reported.

On November 3, he was charged again after getting accused of unlawful taking in Atlantic City.

He appeared in court on November 19 for that charge. Just hours later, he allegedly stole the envelope at the casino.

His repeated actions, especially a short time after a court appearance, angered Wise.

“Quite frankly, it’s just a complete thumbing of his nose at the court,” Wise said during Taylor’s court appearance before Atlantic County Judge Jeffrey Wilson.

Lawyer Blames ‘Social Issues’

But Taylor’s public defender, John Bjorklund, countered “there are significant social issues involved here and there is causation that puts people in situations like this,” BreakingAC.com reported.

“Was he born a criminal or is there some reason that homeless people — which this defendant was at the time of the offense — are committing these type of offenses.”

But Wise responded that if Taylor needs “help,” the public defender’s office need[s] to get him the help he needs, and Taylor must take part in what solution is offered.

It is not then the burden of the rest of society and particularly of the citizens of the city of Atlantic City and all of the individuals who come into Atlantic City casinos to say, ‘Well I’m going to let Mr. Taylor steal from me until he gets the help that he needs,’” Wise said in court.

“The unfortunate reality is he needs to be incarcerated in order to protect the public.”

Judge Wilson also was concerned about Taylor’s criminal record, saying it shows a “continuing unabated disregard for our laws.”

Those coming to Atlantic City to enjoy gambling should be free from any concerns that items will be taken, especially from a purse that’s on your arm,” Wilson added.

Never Placed on Exclusion List

When speaking in court, Taylor revealed he once asked to be placed on the state’s casino exclusion list. But that didn’t happen.

They never put me on the exclusion list to try to help me deter from the casino crime that I was basically doing,” Taylor revealed to the judge.