In a shocking revelation, Marty Small Sr., the Mayor of Atlantic City, and his wife, La'Quetta, the city's superintendent of schools, have been indicted on charges of child endangerment.
The indictment, which also includes charges of assault and making terroristic threats against Marty Small, alleges that the couple repeatedly abused their teenage daughter, both physically and emotionally.
As reported by ABC News, the indictment was handed down by a grand jury on Tuesday, under the auspices of the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office. The charges stem from multiple incidents that allegedly took place in December and January, during which the couple's daughter, aged between 15 and 16, was reportedly subjected to physical and emotional abuse.
Ed Jacobs, the lawyer representing the Smalls, has vehemently denied the charges. "This indictment has absolutely nothing to do with Marty Small's tenure as mayor of Atlantic City, Jacobs stated. 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. Jacobs further defended the couple, stating, Marty and La'Quetta are a good mom and dad raising a teenage child, and asserting that They are totally innocent and will be totally exonerated.
The indictment details a series of disturbing incidents. On January 13, 2024, Marty Small Sr. is alleged to have struck his daughter multiple times in the head with a broom, causing her to lose consciousness. In another incident, Small is accused of engaging in a heated argument with his daughter, during which he reportedly grabbed her head, threw her to the ground, and threatened to throw her down a flight of stairs. The indictment also alleges that Small threatened to smack the weave out of his daughter's head during the altercation.
LaQuetta Small, 47, is also implicated in the indictment. She is accused of punching her daughter multiple times on the chest, causing bruising. In another alleged incident, she is accused of dragging her daughter by the hair and striking her with a belt on her shoulders, leaving visible marks. In a separate incident, La'Quetta Small is accused of punching her daughter in the mouth during an argument.
The indictment of the Smalls comes on the heels of another indictment involving Constance Days-Chapman, the principal of Atlantic City High School. Days-Chapman, a close friend of the Smalls and a subordinate to La'Quetta Small, was indicted on charges of official misconduct, child endangerment, and other charges for allegedly failing to report the alleged abuse of the Smalls' daughter to state child welfare authorities, as required by law and school district policy.
The indictment alleges that in December, the Smalls' daughter confided in Days-Chapman about her ongoing suffering from continuous headaches, a result of the alleged beatings by her parents. Rather than reporting the abuse to authorities, Days-Chapman is accused of informing the Smalls. Days-Chapman's lawyer maintains her innocence.
The unfolding scandal has sent shockwaves through Atlantic City, casting a shadow over the Smalls' public service careers and raising serious questions about the safety and welfare of their daughter. As the legal proceedings continue, the community awaits answers and justice for the alleged victim.
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