Atlantic City Mayor and Wife Plead Not Guilty to Daughter’s Abuse Allegations
The mayor of Atlantic City and his wife, who serves as the city’s schools superintendent, have entered pleas of not guilty to charges of physically abusing their teenage daughter. Mayor Marty Small Sr. and La’Quetta Small stand accused of child endangerment and related charges following an indictment last month.
Prosecutors allege that both parents subjected their 15 to 16-year-old daughter to physical and emotional abuse, with at least one instance resulting in the girl losing consciousness in December and January. Mayor Small, 50, faces additional charges of assault and terroristic threats.
During the court proceedings, the Smalls chose not to speak, with their lawyer, Ed Jacobs, asserting that the accusations are part of a private family matter and do not amount to criminal behaviour. Jacobs emphasised that the couple, entrusted with overseeing substantial taxpayer funds, are innocent parents unfairly targeted due to their public roles.
In response to the indictment, Mayor Small expressed a desire for a fair examination of the facts, underscoring that his daughter continues to reside with them. The case took a dramatic turn when the principal of Atlantic City High School, a close friend of the Smalls, was implicated for failing to report the abuse allegations to authorities.
Constance Days-Chapman, the high school principal, allegedly received complaints from the girl about suffering beatings from her parents, but instead of escalating the matter, she informed the Smalls. Days-Chapman pleaded not guilty to the charges of neglecting to report the abuse allegations.
The prosecution’s case features a mix of evidence, including recordings of the interactions between the girl and her parents, statements made to various authorities, and messages exchanged with friends detailing her unsafe living environment at home. The legal proceedings are likely to probe deeper into the complexities of the accusations and the family dynamics at play.
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