- Marty Small, the Democratic mayor of Atlantic City, New Jersey, was charged along with his wife, La Quetta, with repeated abuse and assault of the couple’s teenage daughter.
- Both Smalls were charged with endangering the welfare of a child. The mayor was charged not only with simple and aggravated assault, but also with making terrorist threats. Meanwhile, LaQuetta Small was charged with three additional counts of simple assault.
- The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office alleges that “the defendants physically and emotionally abused the 15- and 16-year-old daughter on multiple occasions,” including one incident in which the mayor beat her teenage daughter, knocking her unconscious.
Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small and his wife were charged Monday with abusing and assaulting their teenage daughter multiple times, including hitting her over the head with a broom and knocking her unconscious.
The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office announced charges against the parents for endangering the welfare of a child.
Marty Small was also charged with making terroristic threats. Aggravated assault and simple assault. LaQuetta Small was also charged with three separate counts of simple assault.
Atlantic City mayor says his home was searched for a ‘private family matter’, denies whispers of corruption
“The defendants physically and emotionally abused their 15- and 16-year-old daughters on multiple occasions in December 2023 and January 2024,” prosecutors said in a news release.
In one incident, Marty Small allegedly hit his daughter multiple times in the head with a broom, knocking her unconscious. He also allegedly punched her daughter in the leg multiple times, leaving bruises, and also allegedly threatened to throw her daughter down the stairs and “knock the cloth off her head.”
Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small (center) speaks during a press conference on Monday, April 1, 2024 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Flanked by him are his daughter Jada (left) and lawyer Edwin Jacobs (right). (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)
Atlantic City Superintendent LaQuetta Small is accused of punching her daughter multiple times in the chest, leaving a bruise, and punching her in the mouth during a separate argument. Prosecutors said LaQuetta Small is also accused of dragging her daughter by her hair and hitting her with a belt draped over her shoulder, leaving her with marks.
Small declined to comment by phone and referred reporters to his attorney, Ed Jacobs. His attorney did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
The president and vice president of the Atlantic City School Board did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment Monday.
Both Smalls were issued summonses with charges against them.
Earlier this month, Small held a press conference at City Hall and said the search of her home in late March was related to a “private family matter” rather than a crime.
Small said at a news conference that the couple has been interacting with state child welfare officials and has nothing to hide.
“We’re in family therapy, but this should be a family issue,” he said.
A spokeswoman for the state Department of Child Protection and Permanent Residency said the case could not be publicly discussed to protect the privacy of those involved.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Small’s wife and two children were also present at the press conference, but did not speak and left before it ended.
