Charges Dropped Against Atlantic City Schools Superintendent Amid Controversy

MAYS LANDING, N.J. — Prosecutors have decided not to pursue child abuse charges against the Atlantic City superintendent of schools, La’Quetta Small, shortly after her husband, Mayor Marty Small Sr., was acquitted of similar allegations.

Both were accused of endangering and abusing their teenage daughter. Additionally, Atlantic City High School principal Constance Days-Chapman faced charges for failing to report the alleged abuse to child welfare officials. Both women had entered not guilty pleas.

Atlantic County Prosecutor William Reynolds announced on Friday that his office would request a judge to dismiss all charges against the women. This decision followed discussions with the Smalls' daughter, who recently turned 18 and expressed her desire for the case not to proceed.

Reynolds explained, “Based on her wishes, and considering the previous not guilty verdict, we believe it is prudent to dismiss the remaining indictments to avoid re-victimizing her during trials against her mother and a long-time family friend.”

The dismissal request was submitted to a state judge on Friday, but a ruling date remains unclear.

La’Quetta Small was anticipated to face trial in April on charges of endangering a child's welfare and simple assault. Her attorney, Michael Schreiber, expressed satisfaction with the dismissal, suggesting the situation should have been resolved through counseling or family court.

Marty Small had been charged with aggravated assault, endangering a child's welfare, making terroristic threats, and witness tampering. Prosecutors alleged he pressured his daughter to retract claims of abuse she made to law enforcement.

Just weeks prior to his trial, Small was re-elected for a four-year term in the Democratic stronghold, winning by 24 percentage points over his Republican opponent. During his testimony, Small denied any wrongdoing.