Democrat Atlantic City Mayor Charged With Beating His Daughter

Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr. and his wife La'Quetta Small have been charged with physically harming their 16-year-old daughter on multiple occasions last winter. The charges include child endangerment, assault, and terroristic threats. The alleged incidents occurred during family disputes in December and January, with the mayor accused of beating his daughter with a broomstick and punching her. His wife is accused of punching their daughter, dragging her by the hair, and hitting her with a belt. The conflicts reportedly arose from disagreements over the girl's boyfriend, who provided evidence of the abuse to prosecutors. The mayor's attorneys claim the charges are "headline-grabbing" due to his high-profile status and that parenting struggles are not criminal events. Governor Phil Murphy has suggested that Mayor Small consider whether he can continue serving as mayor effectively. Constance Days-Chapman, the mayor's former campaign manager, is also charged with failing to report child abuse and obstructing justice after the Smalls' daughter disclosed the abuse to her. Days-Chapman pleaded not guilty at her arraignment last week. The mayor had previously suggested that the investigation might have "political and racial motivations" after prosecutors searched his home in March.