Shocking accusations of child abuse were brought against the mayor of Atlantic City, Marty Small Sr., and his wife, and now the pair have been charged with abusing their teenage daughter.
Marty and LaQuetta Small were charged this past week after being accused of brutally attacking the minor with a broom, punching her in the mouth, and even leaving her unconscious after one vicious incident.
The Mayor of Atlantic City
Marty Small Sr. has served as the Mayor of New Jersey’s Atlantic City since 2019 after the city council voted 8-0 in his favor.
However, the mayor’s image has recently been tarnished in the wake of horrifying allegations brought against him and his wife, which led to them being charged with abusing their teenage daughter, per The Guardian.
Mayor and Wife Charged
Small Jr. and his wife, LaQuetta, were charged by the Atlantic County prosecutors on Mon. 15, April.
Both parents were charged with endangering the welfare of a child. The father was also charged with making terroristic threats, aggravated assault, and simple assault.
New Jersey Parents Abuse Daughter Over Two-Month Period
LaQuetta, who sits as the superintendent of the Atlantic City Public Schools, was given three additional charges of simple assault.
According to investors working on the case, the attacks took place between December 2023 and January 2024, leaving their young daughter both emotionally and physically hurt.
Young Daughter Attacked With a Broom
The daughter was only 15 when the attacks first began, according to NBC News.
Investigators revealed on one occasion, Small Jr. violently attacked his daughter with a broom to the head, leaving her consciousness in the process.
Atlantic City Mayor Attacks Young Daughter
During a separate incident, investigators reveal Small Jr. threatened his daughter by claiming he was close to “earth slamming” her down a flight of stairs.
He is also said to have thrown her to the ground and punched his daughter several times, leaving dark bruises on her legs.
The Mother Attacks the Minor
The mother is said to have attacked the minor on several occasions. She is alleged to have punched her daughter on her chest, leaving noticeable nursing.
During a separate incident, LaQuetta struck her child with a belt, dragged the helpless child by her hair, and is even said to have punched her in the face after a heated altercation.
Atlantic City Mayor Refuses to Answer Questions
Reporters managed to contact Small Jr. on the telephone, but he refused to answer any questions. Instead, he directed their attention to his lawyer, Ed Jacobs.
Immediately, Jacobs explained the charges brought against the mayor had nothing to do with any kind of public corruption.
Lawyer Claims the Charges Are Associated With Family Matters
Jacobs went on to explain that the charges brought against Small Jr. and his wife were all related to his daughter.
According to the lawyer, they are involved in “a private family matter, including the challenges that Mayor Small and his wife have dealt with raising a teenage daughter.”
The Young Daughter Remains at Home
The attorney finished by revealing the daughter had not left the home and was currently still with her parents.
“This is an intact family,” Jacobs said. “She’s right where she belongs.”
Small Jr. Claims He Has Nothing to Hide
During a news conference held at the end of March, Small Jr. and his wife revealed they’d been working with state child welfare authorities, and their family had nothing to hide.
“We’re going through family therapy, and that’s why this should be a family matter,” said Small Jr. at the time.
Mayor Doesn’t Plan to Step Down
“Mayor Marty Small remains the mayor in the city of Atlantic City and will continue to faithfully perform all of his duties as mayor,” Ed Jacobs, Small’s attorney, said in a statement.
“He and his wife La’Quetta and their two children remain a close and loving and intact family,” per CBS News.
