I Kept This A Secret Until After Atlantic City, NJ, Mayor Criminal Trial

For two years, it very much appeared to the public that the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office had the goods on Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small.

Yet, The Whole Time … They Didn't

I knew on the second day of jury selection that Marty Small had already won a not guilty verdict … that was achieved before the first word of the actual trial was ever spoken.

Juror # 14

Was retired Atlantic City Police Officer Michael Heath.

Heath completed the lengthy juror questionnaire and responded to all questions from the attorneys … stating that he could be fair to all parties.

Heath retired from the Atlantic City Police Department 28 years ago after a distinguished and valiant career.

Defense legal counsel Lou Barbone accepted Heath to the jury. To the surprise of many, the prosecution excused Heath.

Can You Believe That?

You would expect the defense team to use one of its peremptory challenges. They didn’t. You would not ever expect that the prosecution would use one of their challenges. They did.

With That Inexplicable Development, I Concluded

That the trial was already over and that Small had won his exoneration before it even began.

I confided in 5 people with my observation, but, did not say it on-air until after the trial that the prosecution had excused Michael Heath.

Can you think of an example whereby the prosecution side excuses a former police officer from a jury, in a criminal trial?

It’s beyond comprehension. It proved to me at that moment that the prosecution had not properly done its homework.

Conversely, it proved that Lou Barbone had done his homework. He knew exactly what he had in Michael Heath, when he accepted him.

It Was A Sign Of The Lopsided Trial That Would Follow

And, it certainly did. The defense dominated the entire trial and the jury verdict.

Sometimes …

The game is over before it even begins. This was one of those times.

Before I Go …

It is now incumbent upon the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office to dismiss the criminal case versus La’Quetta Small.

The Atlantic City Players