Atlantic City mayor indicted and accused of asking daughter to retract claims that he abused her

Nbc News - Dec 18th, 2024
Open on Nbc News

Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr. has been charged with witness tampering after allegedly asking his daughter to change her abuse allegations against him. An Atlantic County grand jury indicted him and his wife, La'Quetta Small, on charges related to endangering their teenage daughter's welfare, including making terroristic threats and aggravated assault. The couple has pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors claim that Small tried to persuade his daughter to say her head injury was due to an accident, countering allegations that he struck her with a broom. Both parents are accused of multiple instances of emotional and physical abuse against their daughter. Small criticized the indictment, stating his attorney would handle further comments.

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

6.8
Fair Story
Consider it well-founded

The article provides a detailed account of the legal charges against the mayor of Atlantic City, supported by specific allegations and responses. However, it lacks citations from multiple sources, relies heavily on the prosecutor's statements, and does not provide comprehensive context or alternative viewpoints.

RATING DETAILS

8
Accuracy

The article appears to accurately report the charges and allegations against the mayor, as stated by the prosecutor's office. However, it does not provide information from independent sources to verify these claims.

5
Balance

The article predominantly presents the prosecution's perspective and the mayor's brief response, lacking input from other parties, such as additional legal experts or community members, that could provide a more balanced view.

8
Clarity

The language used is clear and straightforward, with a logical structure. The tone remains neutral, though it includes a direct quote from the mayor that contains emotive language.

6
Source quality

The article relies on official statements from the prosecutor's office, which are credible but does not cite other sources that could offer additional insight or corroboration.

7
Transparency

The article discloses the source of its information and mentions the mayor's response but does not delve into potential conflicts of interest or the broader context surrounding the case.