Atlantic City's Mayor Marty Small Sr. and his wife La'Quetta Small have been indicted on child abuse charges for allegedly beating their teenage daughter.
According to the Daily Mail, the couple is accused of multiple instances of physical and emotional abuse against their 15-year-old daughter between December 2023 and January 2024.
The charges stem from allegations that the Smalls repeatedly struck their daughter, at one point causing her to lose consciousness. Prosecutors claim the abuse occurred after the teenager refused to end a relationship with a boy. The indictment details several disturbing incidents, including the use of a broom and belt and threats of further violence.
The 50-year-old Democratic mayor is specifically accused of hitting his daughter multiple times with a broom, causing her to lose consciousness on January 13, 2024. In a separate incident, he allegedly grabbed her head, threw her to the ground, and threatened to throw her down a flight of stairs. Prosecutors also claim Small punched his daughter repeatedly in the legs, leaving bruises.
La'Quetta Small, 47, who serves as the city's superintendent of schools, faces her own set of allegations. She is accused of punching her daughter multiple times in the chest, dragging her by the hair, and striking her with a belt. In another incident, she allegedly punched her daughter in the mouth during an argument.
The alleged abuse came to light after the couple's daughter, identified in court papers as JF, recorded herself being abused and reported the incidents to a school worker.
The Smalls' lawyer, Ed Jacobs, has denied the charges, stating:
This indictment has absolutely nothing to do with Marty Small's tenure as mayor of Atlantic City. There's no charge of corruption or any official misconduct. Marty and La'Quetta Small don't need the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office meddling into a private family matter. Marty and La'Quetta are a good mom and dad raising a teenage child. They are totally innocent and will be totally exonerated.
Jacobs declined to comment on whether the girl is still living at home with her parents.
In a related development, the principal of Atlantic City High School, Constance Days-Chapman, has also been indicted. She faces charges of official misconduct and child endangerment for allegedly failing to report the abuse to state child welfare authorities as required by law and school district policy.
The indictment of both the mayor and the school superintendent has sent shockwaves through Atlantic City's leadership. As prominent figures in the community, the Smalls' legal troubles could have significant implications for the city's governance and educational system.
The case has raised questions about the oversight and reporting procedures in place to protect minors from abuse, especially when those accused hold positions of power and influence within the community.
As the legal process unfolds, the focus will likely remain on the welfare of the teenager at the center of these allegations and the potential impact on Atlantic City's political and educational landscape.
The indictment of Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr. and his wife La'Quetta Small on child abuse charges has brought serious allegations to light. The couple is accused of multiple instances of physical and emotional abuse against their teenage daughter. Their lawyer maintains their innocence, while a school principal has also been indicted for failing to report the alleged abuse. As the case proceeds, it will likely have significant implications for Atlantic City's leadership and community.
