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

Michael Taylor was arrested after surveillance footage showed him taking an envelope of cash from a victim's purse while she played slot machines. The theft occurred just hours after Taylor appeared in court for a separate theft charge from November 3.

Of Taylor's 44 previous convictions, 36 were for theft. He had recently completed a three-year prison sentence in July for 12 theft cases at South Woods State Prison.

During court proceedings, Deputy Attorney General Nicole Wise argued for Taylor's incarceration, stating his actions showed "complete thumbing of his nose at the court." While Taylor's public defender John Bjorklund pointed to "significant social issues" affecting homeless individuals, Judge Jeffrey Wilson expressed concern about Taylor's "continuing unabated disregard for our laws."

Taylor revealed in court that he had previously requested to be placed on the state's casino exclusion list, but the request was never fulfilled.

He remains in custody at the Atlantic County Justice Facility. The case highlights ongoing challenges with repeat offenders in Atlantic City's casino district and the balance between public safety and addressing underlying social issues.

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