Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small, Sr. faces additional legal trouble as he has been indicted on third-degree witness tampering charges. According to Atlantic County Prosecutor William Reynolds, Small allegedly instructed his teenage daughter to alter her account of events related to injuries she sustained, telling her to claim they were caused by a fall in her bedroom.
This development follows a separate indictment in September against both Small and his wife, Atlantic City Superintendent of Schools La’Quetta Small, on child abuse charges. Prosecutors allege that Mayor Small physically and emotionally abused his daughter, including striking her multiple times in the head with a broom, causing her to lose consciousness. Additional allegations include threats of physical harm during arguments, such as “earth slamming” her down the stairs, throwing her to the ground, and forcibly removing her hair extensions.
The prosecutor’s office asserts that the witness tampering charges stem from an incident where Small pressured his daughter to change her initial statements to law enforcement. Prosecutors claim the mayor attempted to manipulate the narrative to downplay the severity of the allegations.
This case has also implicated Atlantic City High School Principal Constance Days-Chapman, who faces official misconduct charges. Investigators allege that Days-Chapman was aware of an incident involving the mayor’s daughter but failed to report it to authorities. Instead, she allegedly informed the Smalls directly, raising concerns about her role in potentially enabling the alleged abuse.
Mayor Small, a controversial figure in Atlantic City politics, has yet to comment on the latest indictment. His legal troubles have cast a shadow over his administration and raised serious questions about accountability and the protection of vulnerable individuals.
Prosecutor Reynolds emphasized the seriousness of the charges, stating that no individual, regardless of position, is above the law. Both Small and his wife are scheduled to appear in court in the coming weeks as the legal proceedings unfold.
This case continues to draw attention to the challenges of addressing abuse and ensuring justice in cases involving public officials and community leaders.
