Is It Mayor Versus Wife In Atlantic City, NJ, Child Abuse Case?

It’s not a case of “Kramer versus Kramer,” or, “The War of The Roses.”

However, a very interesting develop has occurred in the Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small and his wife, La’Quetta Small child abuse case.

La’Quetta Small Wants A Separate Criminal Trial From Her Husband

Through her attorney (Michael Schreiber), La’Quetta Small filed a motion before New Jersey Superior Court Judge Bernard DeLury … requesting to sever her criminal case from her husband.

NOTE: The state of New Jersey has moved to disqualify Schreiber from this case. Schreiber previously represented a witness in this case … a child, with the initials E.L.

Judge DeLury ruled in favor of La’Quetta Small and granted her motion to have her own trial … separate and apart from her husband, Marty Small.

La’Quetta Small is the Atlantic City superintendent of public schools. It has been a very challenging situation for Small to remain as an active Superintendent, while facing criminal child abuse charge.

La’Quetta Small is facing only one criminal charge:

second-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

Marty Small Disagrees With Separate Criminal Trials

Marty Small’s attorneys at The Law Offices of Jacobs and Barbone did not take a formal position against La’Quetta Small’s motion to sever their cases.

However, Jordan Barbone, Esquire did state on the record before Judge DeLury … that Marty Small disagrees with his wife having a separate trial.

Marty Small faces much more danger in this case than does his wife.

Marty Small faces a myriad of criminal charges:

second-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
third-degree Terroristic Threats.
third-degree Aggravated Assault.
A second Atlantic County Grand jury indicted Marty Small for witness tampering.

Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Says:

It is alleged that during the months of December 2023 and January 2024, the defendants physically and emotionally abused their 15/16-year-old-daughter on multiple occasions. During one incident, on January 13, 2024, Marty Small, Sr. is alleged to have hit his daughter multiple times in the head with a broom causing her to lose consciousness, said the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office.

Smart Legal Move By La’Quetta Small

Separating from her husband was a very smart move. La’Quetta Small faces only one criminal charge. Marty Dmsll faces four very serious criminal charges.

La’Quetta Small could have been whipsawed by her husband’s many criminal charges.

It would appear much easier for La’Quetta Small to try and prevail in her own trial, not weighed down by all of Marty Small’s problems.