Man Charged with Stealing Cash from Woman's Purse in Somerset County Courtroom

A 22-year-old Milltown man was arrested for stealing cash from a woman’s purse in a Somerset County courtroom on Wednesday.

Joseph Castiglione was at the court house with a friend who was there for court matters and was caught in the act by a courthouse video.

Castiglione rummaged through the woman’s purse as she left it on the bench to take care of a court issue. The woman saw Castiglione with her purse and confronted him, but he denied removing any items.

She later found cash missing from the purse and reported the incident to a Sheriff’s Officer. The courthouse tape was review and it was found Castiglione did go into the purse.

Castiglione’s travel companion, Michael Ur, was asked about his friend’s whereabouts, but he denied knowing who Castiglione was.

Ur was charged with obstruction for providing false information and Castiglione was charged with theft by unlawful taking.