Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr. and his wife La’Quetta have been indicted for alleged child abuse and witness tampering, raising serious legal and ethical questions.
At a Glance
- Mayor Small indicted for allegedly coercing his daughter to recant abuse claims.
- Incident involved a head injury reportedly caused by a broom, denied by Small.
- Small and his wife have pleaded not guilty and are facing child endangerment charges.
- The case has drawn significant public and media attention.
Legal Charges and Allegations
Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr. faces serious allegations alongside his wife, La’Quetta. Indictments include child abuse and witness tampering, focusing on accusations that he attempted to persuade his daughter to change her story regarding an incident that left her injured.
Prosecutors allege he asked his daughter to claim she hurt herself by falling. Evidence in the case includes video recordings, statements, and messages to authorities indicating she felt unsafe at home. These materials have underpinned the charges, which Small contests.
The situation escalated when it emerged that the January incident involved a broom, alleged to have caused the daughter to lose consciousness. Videos sent to detectives by the daughter’s boyfriend, who received photos of her bruises, bolster the prosecutors’ case.
Atlantic City Mayor Small indicted on witness tampering charge in child abuse case https://t.co/KOwqvtxr4z
— Press of AC (@ThePressofAC) December 18, 2024
Defining Positions
Both Marty and La’Quetta Small have entered pleas of not guilty in response to the charges levied against them. The mayor, defiantly, labeled the indictment an overreach into private family matters. He described the accusations as a “twist up” of events by prosecutors.
The drama unfolds against the backdrop of harsh scrutiny, with Mayor Small declaring, “A bad prosecutor can indict a ham sandwich, and this is what happened here.” His lawyer, Edwin Jacobs, echoed similar sentiments, implying prosecutorial overreach.
Atlantic City Mayor Small indicted on witness tampering charge in child abuse case.
The indictment came approximately 90 minutes after the Mayor concluded a press conference on the city's accomplishments this year.
Story by @ACPressOConnor https://t.co/ZbRCgFq4qq
— Nicholas Huba (@ACPressHuba) December 18, 2024
Historical Context and Future Implications
Small, who ascended to the mayoralty in 2019 following his predecessor’s resignation under legal circumstances, garnered a full term election in 2021. This increased the focus on his leadership as the current allegations unfolded.
As both Small and his wife face serious accusations, the case prompts significant public interest and legal scrutiny. The legal proceedings will likely affect both personal and political spheres, possibly influencing future public service careers.
Sources
2. Atlantic City mayor indicted and accused of asking daughter to retract claims that he abused her
