Judge Denies Motion to Dismiss Charges in Atlantic City Child Abuse Case

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ — A judge recently ruled against a motion to dismiss charges in the child abuse case against Atlantic City’s mayor and schools superintendent. Mayor Marty Small and Dr. La’Quetta Small, both indicted in September, stand accused of physically and verbally abusing their teenage daughter. The mayor is also charged with witness tampering for allegedly asking the girl to alter her account of being beaten unconscious with a broom. The couple's defense argued that they were merely concerned parents trying to protect their daughter from a “juvenile delinquent” boyfriend who allegedly led her astray. However, audio and video recordings taken by the boyfriend contradict the defense's claims, capturing disturbing interactions between the teen and her parents. In one recording, the girl is heard pleading with her mother to stop hitting her, while in another, the mayor threatens to harm his daughter and dismisses any potential consequences. The judge emphasized that the threats and physical aggression captured in the recordings were far from trivial, noting that they constituted abuse under the state's endangerment statutes. The court also reinforced that using parental authority to manipulate a child’s testimony in a criminal investigation is a clear violation of witness tampering laws. In addition to the recordings, messages from the daughter to friends indicated ongoing abuse, with the teen describing bruises, verbal abuse, and a general sense of fear in her home. The case is set to proceed as both parents face serious charges related to the alleged mistreatment of their child.