Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr. is under scrutiny as he faces charges of child abuse and witness tampering.
At a Glance
- Mayor Small and his wife are charged with child abuse and witness tampering.
- Prosecutors claim they pressured their daughter to retract her allegations.
- Mayor denies the charges, describing them as a private family matter.
- Both Marty and La’Quetta Small pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Mayor Indicted on Serious Charges
An Atlantic County grand jury indicted Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr. on charges stemming from allegations of abuse and witness tampering involving his teenage daughter. The prosecutors allege that Small requested his daughter change her statement about an incident in which she claims he caused her head injury by hitting her with a broom. Both the mayor and his wife, La’Quetta, deny all charges and have entered not guilty pleas.
According to the indictment, the daughter sustained the injury in January, which Small reportedly asked her to attribute to a fall. Prosecutors’ evidence includes video records and alleged statements of unsafe home conditions shared by the daughter. Small criticized the indictment as “another clumsy effort by the county prosecutor to intrude into the private and confidential conversations among members of Marty Small’s family.” – Edwin Jacobs
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
Allegations Against Marty and La’Quetta Small
The allegations detail emotional and physical abuse by both Marty and La’Quetta Small, including accusations of terroristic threats and assault. Testimonies reportedly include instances of their daughter losing consciousness. Further claims involve compromising her welfare, with evidence submitted by the daughter’s boyfriend presenting photos of bruises. Despite the indictment, Marty Small affirms his readiness to defend himself legally and expressed distrust in the prosecutorial process.
“A bad prosecutor can indict a ham sandwich and this is what happened here.” – Small
Both Small and his attorney, Edwin Jacobs, insist the charges are fabricated and politically motivated, pledging to contest these accusations vigorously in court. The indictment has resonated with public and media audiences, illustrating a balance of skepticism and concern for due justice.
Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small has been charged with witness tampering in his ongoing child abuse scandal. https://t.co/gAOcqFrBrj
— NJ Spotlight News (@NJSpotlightNews) November 6, 2024
Public and Legal Repercussions
Marty Small’s legal challenges arrive amidst his incumbency since 2019, taking office following his predecessor’s resignation on separate fraud charges. The indictment against him now weighs heavily in public discussions, with many questioning the integrity of the elected officials. The proceedings are expected to continue drawing attention, given the high-profile nature of the involved parties and the grave implications detailed in the charges.
“We look forward to beating this bulls— case, Eddie Jacobs will do the rest of the talking for me.” – Small
As the judicial process unfolds, residents and observers anticipate critical insights into the operations within political and family realms, highlighting responsibilities thrust upon public officials to maintain both professional and personal accountability.
Sources
2. Atlantic City mayor indicted and accused of asking daughter to retract claims that he abused her
