Atlantic City Mayor Faces New Charge of Witness Tampering
What to Know
- Atlantic City’s mayor, Marty Small Sr., faces a new charge of witness tampering involving his 15- to 16-year-old daughter.
- The mayor and his wife, La’Quetta, were previously charged with assault and abuse.
- Prosecutors say Small asked his daughter to say a head injury occurred when she tripped and fell in her room.
- Small’s lawyer calls the latest charge "sheer nonsense" and says the mayor asked his daughter to tell the truth.
New Charge of Witness Tampering
Atlantic City’s mayor, already accused of abusing his teenage daughter, now faces a new charge of witness tampering. Marty Small Sr., 50, was charged on Monday with witness tampering involving his daughter. This new charge comes after the mayor and his wife, La’Quetta, were previously charged with assaulting and abusing their 15- to 16-year-old daughter.
Accusations of Abuse
Prosecutors allege that the mayor and his wife hit and emotionally abused their daughter on multiple occasions last winter. The alleged abuse included the mayor hitting his daughter multiple times in the head with a broom, causing her to lose consciousness, and his wife punching her multiple times on the chest, leaving bruising.
Latest Charge
The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office says Small asked his daughter to "twist up" a statement she had given to investigators regarding the alleged abuse. Specifically, the mayor is accused of asking his daughter to falsely say that a head injury occurred when she tripped and fell in her room.
Defense Response
Small’s lawyer, Edwin Jacobs, calls the latest charge "sheer nonsense" and says the mayor asked his daughter to tell the truth about what happened. "When a parent encourages a child to be accurate and truthful in statements to investigators, that parent is not witness tampering," Jacobs said. "That parent is doing what a good, responsible parent should do. And that is precisely what Marty Small has done."
Conclusion
The latest charge of witness tampering adds to the growing list of allegations against Atlantic City’s mayor and his wife. As the case continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how this new charge will impact the outcome of the original charges.
FAQs
Q: What is the new charge against the mayor?
A: The mayor has been charged with witness tampering involving his 15- to 16-year-old daughter.
Q: What are the original charges against the mayor and his wife?
A: The mayor and his wife were charged with assault and abuse of their daughter.
Q: What is the alleged abuse that the mayor and his wife are accused of committing?
A: The alleged abuse includes hitting and emotionally abusing their daughter on multiple occasions last winter.
Q: What is the next court date for the mayor?
A: The mayor’s next court date is set for December 3.
