The mayor of Atlantic City, New Jersey, and his wife are facing charges after being accused of beating their teen daughter.
Authorities allege that Mayor Marty Small Sr., 50, and La’Quetta Small, 47, emotionally and physically abused their daughter on multiple occasions including one that left her unconscious after the mayor allegedly struck the teen’s head several times with a broom.
Prosecutors also allege that the mother punched the girl in her chest and hit her with a belt several times leaving marks and bruises, among other accusations.
Authorities built the case on video proof and conversations the 16-year-old had with counselors and peers.
Investigators also combed through medical reports and re-conducted interviews with the daughter, who spoke on the abuse, and her family members.
However, the Smalls have denied the allegations, and the girl remains in the couple’s home.
Marty Smalls’ attorney Edwin Jacobs Jr., reportedly said in a statement to The Washington Post that they are “completely innocent of any wrongdoing and will ultimately be vindicated.”
“These complaints focus exclusively on private family matters, basically attempting to second guess parental decisions of Mayor Small and his wife,” Jacobs Jr., reportedly said.
The high ranking couple was charged with second-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Separately, Marty Small is facing third-degree terroristic threats, simple assault, and third-degree aggravated assault. La’Quetta Small, on the other hand, was hit with three separate counts of disorderly persons simple assault.
It is also alleged that on another occasion, Marty Small “threatened to hurt her by ‘earth slamming’ her down the stairs, grabbing her head and throwing her to the ground and smacking the weave out of her head,” officials said.
Both Marty Small and La’Quetta Small are accused of punching her repeatedly in different areas of her body, including her…
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