Michael Taylor
An Atlantic County man with a criminal history dating to 1978 was ordered held in jail last week after he allegedly stole money from a woman's purse inside a casino.
Michael Taylor, 65, has 44 prior indictable convictions, including 36 thefts, according to his history that was put on the record at his detention hearing last week.
He was released from South Woods State Prison on July 30, after serving a three-year sentence connected to a dozen theft by unlawful taking cases.
Taylor received a summons for theft by unlawful taking out of Atlantic City on Nov. 3.
He was then in court Nov. 19, for that case along with one from last year.
Hours later, he allegedly was at Resorts Atlantic City, where surveillance video showed him taking an envelope out of a woman's purse as she stood by a slot machine, the purse on her arm, Deputy Attorney General Nicole Wise told the judge.
"Quite frankly, it’s just a complete thumbing of his nose at the court," Wise said of the alleged crime just hours after he left court.
But public defender John Bjorklund said the Attorney General's Office "is rejecting the idea that there are significant social issues involved here and there is causation that puts people in situations like this. It’s not because they’re thumbing their nose at anyone, it’s because there are issues."
Michael Taylor was paroled from South Woods State Prison on July 30, 2024. (N.J. Department of Corrections photo)"At some in time, somebody has to ask, what’s going on here," Bjorklund continued. "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."
Wise took issue with Bjorklund's assessment of her office, pointing out that she personally has worked with him before in helping find alternatives for other defendants.
"If the argument is that (Taylor) needs help, that’s fine," Wise said. "Then they (the Public Defender's Office) need to figure out a way to get him that help and Mr. Taylor has to actually participate in that help.
"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,'" she continued. "The unfortunate reality is he needs to be incarcerated in order to protect the public."
Judge Jeffrey Wilson agreed, noting that Taylor's criminal history began when he was 19, and has continued until the age of 65.
"The continuing unabated disregard for our laws and the rights for others gives the court great great concern," Wilson said, adding that all 44 prior convictions are crimes with victims.
"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," the judge said.
After the decision, Taylor addressed Wilson, saying he asked to be put on the casino exclusion list, but never was despite his history.
"They never put me on the exclusion list to try to help me deter from the casino crime that I was basically doing," he said.
Taylor said he finally was able to get a home through Section 8, and was set to move to Absecon in January. He now worries this latest stint in jail will erase that.
The judge said Taylor could appeal his decision, but Bjorklund said he saw no argument that would reverse it.
Instead, he suggested Taylor work with his office to put together a program that would allow him to avoid being sent back to state prison.
The judge agreed.
Taylor remains in the Atlantic County Justice Facility.
