Prosecutors in New Jersey said they will not pursue a child abuse trial against Atlantic City Schools Superintendent La’Quetta Small, just weeks after a jury found her husband, Mayor Marty Small Sr., not guilty in the same case.
La’Quetta Small and Marty Small Sr. had been accused of endangering and physically abusing their teenage daughter. La’Quetta Small was scheduled to be tried separately in the spring, but prosecutors’ plans were put into question after a jury returned a not-guilty verdict for the mayor.
The decision to abandon the case came after the couple’s daughter, who turned 18 earlier this month, determined she no longer wanted the case to proceed, Atlantic County Prosecutor William Reynolds said late Friday. Reynolds also said prosecutors moved to drop charges against Atlantic City High School Principal Constance Days-Chapman, who had been charged with failing to report the teen’s abuse claim to state child welfare officials.
In remarks carried by the Associated Press, Reynolds said the dismissal was guided by the daughter’s wishes, the prior not guilty verdict, and an effort “not to re‑victimize (the daughter) again with trials against her mother and longtime family friend.”
Both La’Quetta Small and Days-Chapman had pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors made their request for the dismissals to a state judge late Friday, but it was not clear Tuesday when a ruling would be made.
La’Quetta Small, 49, was scheduled to stand trial in April on charges of endangering the welfare of a child and simple assault. Her attorney, Michael Schreiber, said he was pleased with prosecutors’ decision and that the matter should have been handled by counselors or in family court.
Marty Small Sr., 51, was acquitted of aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of a child, making terroristic threats and witness tampering. Prosecutors had said he asked his daughter to recant claims she made to law enforcement officials that he had abused her.
Just weeks before his trial began, Small was reelected to a four-year term in the Democratic stronghold, posting a 24-percentage-point win over his Republican challenger. During his testimony, Small denied ever harming his child.