The principal of Atlantic City High School, Constance Days-Chapman, has been indicted on charges of official misconduct, child endangerment, and other offenses. These charges stem from allegations that she failed to report to child welfare authorities that the teenage daughter of Atlantic City’s mayor, Marty Small, claimed she was being physically abused by her parents at home. Days-Chapman, who goes by the nickname Mandy, is a close friend of Mayor Small and his wife, La’Quetta, who have also been charged with abusing and assaulting their daughter.

According to the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, the indictment, consisting of eight counts, was issued by a grand jury. Despite the accusations, Days-Chapman and the Smalls maintain their innocence. Days-Chapman’s lawyer, Lee Vartan, asserts that they have provided evidence proving her innocence, which was allegedly disregarded by the prosecutor’s office.

The prosecutor’s office stated that in December 2023, the mayor’s daughter informed Days-Chapman about the abuse she was suffering at home, which included continuous beatings causing her headaches. However, Days-Chapman allegedly did not follow the required protocol to report this information to the state child welfare authorities as mandated by law and district policy.

Moreover, on January 22, 2024, the mayor’s daughter disclosed to a school staff member that she had experienced emotional and physical abuse at home, reiterating that she had previously confided in Days-Chapman. Despite this revelation, Days-Chapman denied being informed about the abuse by the daughter. Subsequently, Days-Chapman agreed to report the matter to New Jersey’s Division of Child Protection and Permanency, but instead, she met with the Smalls in a car outside their home that evening.

Following an investigation, it was confirmed that no reports of the alleged abuse concerning the Smalls’ daughter were submitted by anyone from Atlantic City schools to the child welfare agency. In April, the prosecutor’s office had brought charges against Marty Small, accusing him of hitting his daughter with a broom multiple times, punching her legs, and threatening her with violence. He was also alleged to have made threats about causing her harm.