A 65-year-old homeless man with 44 prior convictions faces new charges for allegedly stealing cash from a woman's purse at Resorts Atlantic City casino.

Michael Taylor allegedly took an envelope of cash from a victim's purse while she was playing slots, with the incident captured on surveillance video. Taylor, who had just completed a three-year prison sentence in July for multiple theft convictions, was arrested and is currently held at Atlantic County Justice Facility.

His criminal record spans over four decades, including 36 theft charges since 1978. Most recently, Taylor was charged with unlawful taking on November 3 and allegedly committed the casino theft just hours after appearing in court on November 19.

During court proceedings, Deputy Attorney General Nicole Wise argued for Taylor's incarceration to protect the public, while his public defender John Bjorklund pointed to underlying social issues affecting homeless individuals. Judge Jeffrey Wilson expressed concern about Taylor's "continuing unabated disregard for our laws" and emphasized the need to protect casino visitors.

Taylor revealed he had previously requested to be placed on the state's casino exclusion list but claims this never happened. His case highlights ongoing challenges with repeat offenders in Atlantic City's casino district and the balance between public safety and addressing social issues affecting criminal behavior.

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