ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (TCN) — The mayor of Atlantic City and his wife, the city’s superintendent of schools, face charges after allegedly physically and emotionally abusing their teen daughter on multiple occasions.
The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office alleges that during the months of December 2023 and January 2024, 50-year-old Marty Small Sr., and his wife, 47-year-old La’Quetta Small, inflicted crimes against their daughter when she was 15 to 16 years old.
On Jan. 3, Small Sr. allegedly continuously threatened his daughter during an argument, telling her he’d “hurt her by ‘earth slamming’ her down the stairs, grabbing her head and throwing her to the ground, and smacking the weave out of her head.”
According to the prosecutor’s office, Small Sr. also allegedly punched his daughter in the legs continuously, which resulted in bruises. Investigators allege that La’Quetta Small once punched her daughter in the chest numerous times, also causing bruising. In another incident, prosecutors argue Small “dragged her daughter by her hair” before beating her with a belt on the shoulders. Small is also accused of punching her daughter in the mouth during an argument in another incident.
On Jan. 13, prosecutors allege Small Sr. struck his daughter in the head with a broom multiple times, causing her to go unconscious.
A jury indicted Marty Small Sr. and La’Quetta Small on Sept. 17 on charges of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, while Small Sr. was also indicted for third-degree terroristic threats and third-degree aggravated assault.
In a statement obtained by The Associated Press, Small Sr. said, “All people have heard is one side of the story. We look forward to telling our side.”
The mayor’s lawyer reportedly said, “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.”
His attorney added, “Marty and La’Quetta are a good mom and dad raising a teenage child. They are totally innocent and will be totally exonerated.”