Atlantic City Mayor’s Child Abuse Charges Shine Light on Local Government’s Troubles

Posted on: October 22, 2024, 10:41h. 

Last updated on: October 22, 2024, 10:52h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.

Atlantic City’s Democratic Mayor Marty Small Sr. and his wife La’Quetta Small have both entered not-guilty pleas concerning child endangerment charges a grand jury handed down last month against the two power players in the casino town.

Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small child endangerment
La’Quetta Small and her husband, Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr., flanked by their attorneys, plead not guilty to child endangerment charges on Oct. 10, 2024. The Smalls are accused of physically and mentally abusing their teenage daughter. (Image: AP)

The Smalls are alleged to have routinely subjected their teenage daughter to physical and mental abuse. The mayor, 50, is accused of physically striking his daughter with a broomstick on multiple occasions and throwing her down a flight of stairs.

Mrs. Small, 47, the superintendent of Atlantic City Public Schools, allegedly punched the adolescent in the chest resulting in bruising. Prosecutors say they have video evidence from a boyfriend who recorded his calls with the Smalls’ teen that relays an unstable home environment.  

In one video, the mayor can allegedly be heard threatening, “Don’t make me hurt you!”

The high profiles earned by Marty and La’Quetta present an opportunity for a headline-grabbing investigation, even if that means meddling into personal and private family matters such as a mom and dad doing their best to manage the challenges of raising a teenage child,” said Smalls attorney Ed Jacobs read. “We are confident that fair-minded jurors will quickly see that parenting struggles are not criminal events, and will agree on the innocence of both Marty and La’Quetta.”

If found guilty, the Smalls each face years behind bars and fines of up to $150K.

AC Corruption

The charges against the mayor are just the latest to rock the Atlantic City government. And while Small remains in his capacity as he fights the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s charges, which, along with child endangerment include assault and making terroristic threats, WPG Talk Radio shines a light on a possible case of quid pro quo.

The mayor recently welcomed Bruce Weekes to his administration after Weekes abruptly resigned from the Atlantic City Council. The Democrat-controlled Council has three names nominated to succeed Weekes, each proposed by Atlantic City Democratic Committee President Constance Days Chapman.

If Chapman’s name rings a bell, it’s likely because she’s also charged in the Smalls’ child endangerment case. Chapman, the suspended principal of Atlantic City High School, is charged with failing to report the Smalls’ daughter’s alleged abuse after she reported it to school staff.

Chapman is alleged to have instead only relayed the abuse claims back to her close friends, the Smalls.

Council rules say when a councilor resigns, the president of that councilor’s party proposes three names for consideration. Four of the remaining councilors are Smalls allies, meaning they might be likely to vote in favor of whomever the mayor wishes to see assume the vacant seat.

Among the three candidates Chapman pitched to the Atlantic City Council is her husband Lapell Chapman, the assistant principal of Pleasantville High School.

“If you’re wondering why things are so bad in Atlantic City these days, just consider this ugly political scenario,” wrote Harry Hurley, an Atlantic City native who worked for a decade as an Atlantic City casino executive.

State Remains in Charge 

Most of Atlantic City’s governances remain under state control as they have for many years. It was 2016 when the Democrat-controlled Legislature and Republican Gov. Chris Christie forcibly assumed control of Atlantic City to reign in runaway expenses, high taxes, and poor governance of the seaside casino resort town.

As such, Small’s role primarily involves appointing department heads with the advice and consent of the City Council. The mayor is also responsible for appointing board and commission members and making recommendations to the City Council on items of public interest.

Small is additionally tasked with providing the state with annual reports and budget recommendations.