In a significant legal development, prosecutors in Atlantic County have announced they will not proceed with a child abuse trial against Atlantic City's superintendent of schools. This decision comes just weeks after her husband, the mayor of the seaside gambling resort, was acquitted on similar charges.
Charges Against Superintendent and Principal
Marty Small Sr., 51, and La'Quetta Small, 49, were both accused of endangering and abusing their teenage daughter. Additionally, Atlantic City High School principal Constance Days-Chapman was charged in the case because prosecutors alleged she failed to report the teen's abuse claim to state child welfare officials. Both women had entered not guilty pleas to the charges brought against them.
Prosecutor's Statement on Dismissal
Atlantic County Prosecutor William Reynolds revealed late on Friday that his office would formally request a judge to dismiss all charges against the two women. He explained that the decision was reached after his office consulted with the Smalls' daughter, who recently turned 18 earlier this month. The young woman expressed that she no longer wished for the case to proceed.
"Based on her wishes, keeping in mind the prior not guilty verdict, and in an attempt not to re‑victimize (the daughter) again with trials against her mother and longtime family friend, we believe it is prudent and responsible to dismiss the remaining indictments," Reynolds stated in his announcement.
Legal Proceedings and Reactions
Prosecutors submitted the dismissal request to a state judge on Friday, though it remains unclear when a ruling will be made. La'Quetta Small had been scheduled to stand trial in April on charges of endangering the welfare of a child and simple assault.
Her attorney, Michael Schreiber, expressed satisfaction with the prosecutors' decision, suggesting that the matter should have been addressed by counselors or within the family court system rather than through criminal proceedings.
Background on Mayor's Case
Marty Small had faced charges including aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of a child, making terroristic threats, and witness tampering. Prosecutors had alleged that he asked his daughter to recant her claims of abuse that she had made to law enforcement officials.
Remarkably, just weeks before his trial began last month, Small was reelected to a four-year term as mayor in the Democratic stronghold, securing a 24-percentage-point victory over his Republican challenger. During his testimony, Small consistently denied ever harming his child.
The intertwined cases have drawn considerable attention in Atlantic City, highlighting complex issues at the intersection of family dynamics, educational leadership, and municipal governance.
