Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr. and his wife face charges of mistreating and assaulting their teenage daughter, including incidents where they allegedly punched her in the mouth and hit her with a broom.
Both Marty Small, aged 50, and his wife, La’Quetta Small, were charged with endangering the welfare of a child and accused of simple assault. Additionally, the mayor faces charges of terrorist threats and aggravated assault.
According to the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, Marty Small is accused of striking his daughter in the head with a broom until she lost consciousness. He also allegedly threatened her with violence, including threats of throwing her down the stairs and hitting her head.
La’Quetta Small, who serves as Atlantic City’s superintendent of schools, is accused of dragging her daughter by the hair, hitting her with a belt, and punching her in separate incidents, leaving marks.
These incidents reportedly occurred when the girl was between the ages of 15 and 16.
At a news conference on April 1, Mayor Marty Small denied any wrongdoing, stating that the investigation was a “family matter.” He was joined by his wife, daughter, and son. The Smalls were unavailable for comment on Monday.
The news conference followed charges against Atlantic City High School Principal Constance “Mandy” Days-Chapman for allegedly failing to report abuse. Days-Chapman, a close friend of the mayor, reportedly went to the student’s parents instead of reporting the abuse to authorities.
Although it hasn’t been officially confirmed, there’s speculation that the student who was abused might be the mayor’s own daughter. Mayor Small made a public statement supporting Days-Chapman during a press conference, asserting her innocence and defending her actions.
His steadfast support for Days-Chapman in the face of these accusations has stirred conversations in the community about the complexities of the situation and the significance of standing by people during difficult moments.
As the investigation progresses, the mayor’s position and the possible role of his daughter introduce additional layers of curiosity and scrutiny to the unfolding narrative.