NEW JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — The Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said on Monday that it filed child abuse charges against Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small and his wife.
Prosecutors say both Marty and his wife, Atlantic City School Superintendent La'Quetta Small, violently abused their 16-year-old daughter numerous times in December 2023 and January 2024.
Investigators say Marty Small knocked her unconscious after multiple strikes to the head with a broomstick. He allegedly also punched her legs, causing bruises. During another argument, he allegedly threatened to 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," prosecutors said.
La'Quetta Small is accused of punching her daughter in the face and chest and hitting her with a belt.
Marty Small had his family by his side on April 1 when he publicly responded to reports of a warrant served at his house a few days prior. He said his family is going through challenging personal matters and they are in therapy.
His attorney, Ed Jacobs, issued a statement on behalf of the mayor, claiming prosecutors are attempting to second-guess the Smalls' personal parenting decisions. The statement reads in full:
