Atlantic City Mayor and Wife Face Charges of Abusing Teenage Daughter

Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr. and his wife, La'Quetta Small, the superintendent of the city's public schools, have been charged with physically and emotionally abusing their 16-year-old daughter multiple times in December and January. The charges include second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, aggravated assault, terroristic threats, and simple assault.

Prosecutors allege that Marty Small threatened to "smack that weave" out of his daughter's head, threatened to "slam her down the steps," and threw her into the shower and choked her before knocking her to the ground with a broom, causing a head injury. La'Quetta Small is also accused of dragging her daughter by the hair and striking her with a belt. The couple's attorney claims they are "completely innocent of any wrongdoing."

The investigation began after the daughter reported the abuse to school staff, but the school failed to notify the state's child protection agency. This led to charges against Atlantic City High School Principal Constable Days-Chapman for failing to report child abuse in January.

Why this matters: This case highlights the issue of child abuse and the responsibility of school officials to report such incidents. It also raises concerns about the conduct of elected officials and the impact on their ability to serve the public.

This is the fifth time an Atlantic City mayor has faced criminal charges since the city's form of government changed to a mayor-council format in 1982. Previous Atlantic City mayors who have been charged include Frank Gilliam Jr., Bob Levy, Michael J. Matthews, and James Usry, all of whom faced various corruption and fraud-related charges during their time in office.

Key Takeaways

• Atlantic City mayor and wife charged with abusing 16-year-old daughter.
• Allegations include threats, physical assault, and failure to report by school.
• Mayor claims it's a "family matter," but has history of officials facing charges.
• Couple released on bail, case sparks outrage and concerns about mayor's fitness.
• Authorities continue investigating allegations and family's history.