Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small and his wife have been charged with abusing and assaulting their teenage daughter on multiple occasions. The charges include hitting the daughter in the head with a broom and knocking her unconscious. The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office filed charges against both parents for endangering the welfare of a child. Marty Small is also charged with making terroristic threats, aggravated assault, and simple assault, while La’Quetta Small faces additional charges of simple assault. The abuse allegedly took place in December 2023 and January 2024, with incidents of physical and emotional abuse reported.
In one incident, Marty Small is accused of hitting his daughter multiple times in the head with a broom, causing her to lose consciousness. He also allegedly punched her in the legs, leaving bruises, and threatened to throw her down a staircase. La’Quetta Small, who is the superintendent of schools in Atlantic City, is accused of punching her daughter multiple times in the chest, mouth, and dragging her by the hair. She also allegedly struck her daughter with a belt on her shoulders, leaving marks. The prosecutor’s office detailed the abuse and assault that the teenager endured at the hands of her parents.
When contacted for a comment, Marty Small declined and referred the reporter to his lawyer, Ed Jacobs. Jacobs emphasized that the charges do not involve public corruption or any impropriety in the mayor’s official duties. He described the charges as a “private family matter” involving the challenges of raising a teenage daughter. Jacobs did not address the specifics of the charges but mentioned that the daughter has not been removed from the home and that the family is intact. The president and vice president of the Atlantic City Board of Education did not respond to requests for comment.
Small held a news conference earlier in City Hall, stating that a search of his home in late March was related to a private family issue, not a crime. He mentioned that he and his wife have been in contact with state child welfare authorities and have nothing to hide. Small stated that the family was undergoing family therapy and described the situation as a family matter that should be handled as such. The state Division of Child Protection and Permanency stated that it cannot discuss cases publicly to protect the privacy of individuals involved. Small’s wife and two children attended the news conference but did not speak.
The Smalls were issued summonses with the charges against them. While the situation involving the mayor and his wife has garnered attention, they maintain that it is a private family matter. The attorney for the couple emphasized that the family is working through the challenges of raising a teenage daughter and is undergoing therapy. The community awaits further developments in this case as the legal proceedings continue. The impact of these allegations on Mayor Marty Small’s position and reputation remains to be seen as they navigate this difficult situation.
