Atlantic City Mayor, Superintendent Indicted In Abuse Of Daughter

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ — Atlantic City's mayor and the superintendent of the Atlantic City School District, have been indicted on charges they abused their teenage daughter, hitting her in the head with a broom and punching her on multiple occasions, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office announced Wednesday.

Mayor Marty Small Sr., 50, and his wife, La’Quetta Small, 47, were indicted on second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and Marty Small was additionally indicted on charges of third-degree terroristic threats and third-degree aggravated assault, the prosecutor's office said.

Authorities say the abuse happened in December 2023 and January 2024. On Jan. 13, 2024, Marty Small is accused of hitting his daughter, age 16, multiple times in the head with a broom, causing her to lose consciousness, the prosecutor's office said.

He also is accused of threatening 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, during an argument on Jan. 3. In another incident, he is accused of punching her repeatedly in her legs causing bruising.

La'Quetta Small is accused of punching her daughter multiple times, leaving bruises on the girl's chest in one incident, and punching her in the mouth during an argument. La'Quetta Small also is accused of dragging her daughter by her hair then hitting her with a belt on her shoulders leaving marks.

The Smalls were charged in the case in April, after someone reported the abuse to a child abuse hotline.

The indictment of the Smalls comes on the heels of an indictment a week ago of Atlantic City High School Principal Constance Days-Chapman on misconduct and other charges after the girl reported the abuse at home but Days-Chapman did not report the abuse to authorities.

The girl spoke to Days-Chapman, and later to another staff member, complaining of a persistent headache due to the abuse, authorities have said. But even after the other staff member spoke to the principal, Days-Chapman still did not report the abuse, authorities have said.

DCP&P confirmed to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office that they never received a report of abuse from Days-Chapman or anyone at the school, officials said.

Anyone with information about this incident or other serious crimes is asked to call the Atlantic
County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or go to the Prosecutor’s Office’s Website at
ACPO.Tips and provide information by filling out a form anonymously.

Any concerned person can report suspicions of child abuse or neglect by calling their local
police department or call the Child Abuse Hotline at (877) NJ-ABUSE / (877) 652-2873 / TTY:
(800) 835-5510.

Crime Stoppers: People can also call Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 or 1-800-658-8477
(TIPS) or visit the Crime Stoppers Website at http://www.crimestoppersatlantic.com/. Crime
Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those who
commit crimes in Atlantic County.

Read more:

• Atlantic City Mayor, Superintendent Abused Teen Daughter: Prosecutor
• Atlantic City High School Principal Didn't Report Child Abuse: Cops