SOUTH JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small and his wife, La’Quetta, have been indicted for allegedly beating their teenage daughter.
Marty and La’Quetta Small have been formally indicted on child endangerment charges. Marty Small is facing additional charges of aggravated assault and making terroristic threats.
This is the next step in the legal process after these allegations were initially raised in April. The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office said the couple physically and emotionally abused their then 15-year-old — now 16-year-old — daughter multiple times between December 2023 and January 2024.
The indictment alleges Marty Small knocked her unconscious with a broomstick and "earth-slammed" her down the stairs. La’Quetta Small — who is the superintendent of Atlantic City Public Schools — is accused of hitting her daughter with a belt and punching her in the face.
Last week, Atlantic City High School principal Constance Days-Chapman was indicted on official misconduct, child endangerment and other charges for allegedly failing to notify child welfare authorities that the teenager claimed she was being beaten at home by her parents.
The Smalls have repeatedly said this is a personal family issue that comes with the challenges of raising a teenager and that they are innocent of any wrongdoing.
Their attorney, Ed Jacobs, echoed them, saying the prosecutor's office is meddling in parental affairs and the Smalls are good parents and innocent of these charges. He said the claims outlined against them are incorrect and they will be exonerated.
Marty Small has remained in his position as mayor and said he has no plans to leave.