Atlantic Metropolis Mayor Marty Small Sr. was acquitted on Thursday of all the costs towards him in connection to the alleged abuse of his teenage daughter.
The 51-year-old Democrat, who gained reelection in November, had been indicted in September 2024, alongside his spouse, La’Quetta Small, the town’s superintendent of colleges. Each had been charged with little one endangerment, aggravated assault and making terrorist threats following accusations that they bodily and emotionally abused their daughter on a number of events between December 2023 and January 2024.
In a single occasion, Small allegedly beat his daughter within the head with a brush, inflicting her to lose consciousness, prosecutors stated. He was additionally accused of punching her and threatening to throw her down a flight of stairs. La’Quetta Small was accused of punching the woman, dragging her by the hair and placing her with a belt.
In December 2024, as an investigation was ongoing, Marty Small was indicted once more on prices of witnessing tampering after he allegedly advised his daughter to lie in regards to the abuse. In keeping with prosecutors, he requested her to “do him a favor and ‘twist up’ the story she had previously told police,” particularly by asking her to say that the accidents she sustained from the broom got here from when she “tripped and fell in her room.”
The trial towards Marty Small started earlier this month and concluded on Thursday when the jury lastly reached a verdict after two and a half days of asking questions and making requests to evaluate proof, in response to NJ Advance Media.
Jurors reportedly requested the court docket what would occur in the event that they couldn’t unanimously agree on the costs, however decided minutes after asking to hear once more to parts of Small’s testimony.
Atlantic Metropolis N.J.Mayor Marty Small Sr. listens to a decide communicate throughout a court docket look in Mays Touchdown N.J. on Oct. 10, 2024. (Wayne Parry/AP)
Small and his supporters cheered when the jury returned with a verdict of not responsible on all counts. He additionally celebrated exterior the courthouse, telling reporters that “the entire Atlantic City was on trial, and this is a win for everyone.”
Small had have been going through as much as 25 years in jail and would have be compelled to step down as mayor if convicted of the extra severe prices. He’d earlier rejected a plea deal that might’ve taken incarceration off the desk.
Atlantic County Prosecutor William Reynolds stated he disagreed with the decision, however revered the judicial course of.
“Today’s verdict, while disappointing, is what America’s all about,” Reynolds stated. “When someone is charged with a crime, they have the constitutional right to face their accusers and be judged by a jury of their peers and that happened today.”
La’Quetta Small is reportedly anticipated to face trial individually in January for little one endangerment and failing to report the alleged abuse. She denies wrongdoing.
