William Flores (N.J. Department of Corrections)
An Atlantic City man recently released from prison was ordered jailed this week after he allegedly stole a cash register from 7-Eleven.
William Flores, 41, was arrested Jan. 2, still in possession of the cash register and burglary tools, according to the charges.
Police were called to the 7-Eleven at 3 a.m., after Flores took the cash register, forcibly running into one worker and knocking him down, the state alleges. He also threatened a second worker who tried to lock the door.
"Frankly, the community and the people who work in that store need to be protected from individuals like this man," Judge Patricia Wild said in ordering him detained Thursday. "One of the reasons there are so few places in the community that stay open or even open in the community are because of behaviors like this."
Wild also noted the recent spate of violence in the city.
"Atlantic City right now is in the throes of a problem with homicides," she said. "There have been four homicides this year already. There are darn few places like the 7-Eleven that stay open in that community."
Flores has been trying to get his life on track since his release from a sixth prison term, defense attorney Samantha Geisinger said.
He has been off drugs since his release and was in long-term rehab. His last arrest was in 2014, she said.
His state criminal record shows a different story.
Flores was released from South Woods State Prison on Nov. 4, after apparently maxing out of the eight-year term he received in a 2014 robbery case.
He was in and out of custody four times during that span.
Flores was first released Nov. 13, 2014, before going back in May 6, 2015. His release Nov. 4, 2020 lasted nearly six months, before he went back on April 22, 2021.
Flores again was released March 23 of last year before he went back to prison again on May 16, before his term was completed Nov. 4.
He had been staying at a hotel in Atlantic City, where he was doing some work, his attorney said. If he had been released, Geisinger said Flores could have stayed with his father in Mays Landing.
Flores now will remain in the Atlantic County Justice Facility.
