Former Detectives Raise New Questions About Marty Small Prosecution as $50 Million Lawsuit Moves Forward

Retired Atlantic County investigators describe unusual surveillance, heavy security and alleged political motivations; prosecutor seeks dismissal while Small's attorneys challenge immunity protections.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Two retired Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office detectives have provided statements questioning the handling of the criminal investigation and prosecution of Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small, adding new allegations to a $50 million civil lawsuit accusing Prosecutor William Reynolds of pursuing the case for political reasons.

The statements, included in court documents filed this week, describe what the former investigators considered extraordinary surveillance operations, unusually heavy security and investigative decisions that differed from their experience handling other criminal cases.

The new information comes as Reynolds and other defendants seek dismissal of the lawsuit, arguing that prosecutors are protected by established legal immunity doctrines.

Small and his attorneys contend that the alleged conduct went beyond legitimate prosecutorial responsibilities and violated the civil rights of the mayor, his wife and an Atlantic City school administrator.

The allegations have not been established in court, and Reynolds has previously defended the criminal investigation as legitimate and impartial.

Retired Investigators Question Handling of Case

Former Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office Capt. James Scoppa and Detective Jason Dorn provided information to private investigator Tom Bailey, who prepared reports submitted in support of the civil lawsuit.

Neither former detective was assigned to the underlying child abuse investigation, but both described observations and experiences involving the prosecution.

Scoppa retired in December after more than 24 years with the office. Dorn retired in June after 22 years.

According to court documents described by BreakingAC, Scoppa questioned the number of law enforcement personnel involved when authorities executed a search warrant at the Smalls' Atlantic City home.

He estimated that 25 to 30 officers participated in the operation, compared with approximately 10 to 12 officers he said would typically be involved in a child abuse investigation.

Scoppa also alleged that Reynolds viewed the prosecution as an opportunity to advance his political career, potentially positioning himself for appointment as New Jersey attorney general.

That assertion represents Scoppa's opinion about Reynolds' motivations, not an independently established fact.

Dorn raised similar concerns about the resources devoted to the case.

He described extensive security measures surrounding the mayor's criminal trial, including multiple armed detectives stationed inside the courtroom and additional personnel in surrounding hallways.

Dorn questioned why the Prosecutor's Office devoted so many personnel to courtroom security when the Atlantic County Sheriff's Office ordinarily provides courthouse protection.

He also described surveillance operations involving the mayor's daughter and her boyfriend that he considered excessive.

Daughter Describes Feeling Under Surveillance

One of the most significant additions to the civil case is a signed certification from the mayor's daughter, who was the central witness in the criminal prosecution.

According to reporting on the latest filing, she described feeling that she and her boyfriend were constantly monitored by investigators.

The certification alleges that detectives repeatedly contacted them and questioned whether they intended to appear in court.

She also claimed investigators threatened her with incarceration if she refused to testify.

The daughter further alleged that she was led to believe her parents would not be imprisoned even if they were convicted.

Those allegations are important because the criminal prosecution involved accusations that Small and his wife abused their then-teenage daughter.

The mayor consistently denied physically abusing her.

The daughter testified during the criminal trial, and the jury ultimately acquitted Small of all charges in December 2025.

The latest certification represents her account of interactions with investigators. It does not establish that detectives engaged in unlawful coercion.

Earlier Lawsuit Raised Additional Allegations

The latest statements add to accusations made when Small, his wife and Atlantic City High School Principal Constance Days-Chapman filed their civil lawsuit in June.

The Philadelphia Inquirer previously reported that the lawsuit alleged investigators offered the daughter's boyfriend expensive merchandise, including designer sneakers and an iPhone, in exchange for information.

The complaint also alleged that the daughter was threatened with arrest if she did not cooperate and that investigators misled her about the potential consequences her parents faced.

Those allegations have not been independently substantiated.

The boyfriend was not called to testify during the mayor's criminal trial, according to the Inquirer's reporting.

The lawsuit also accuses Reynolds of staging an unnecessarily aggressive search of the Smalls' home to generate publicity.

The new statements from Scoppa and Dorn potentially strengthen the plaintiffs' arguments by adding accounts from former employees of the Prosecutor's Office.

However, the former detectives' statements are not judicial findings, and neither man was responsible for conducting the underlying child abuse investigation.

Lawsuit Follows Mayor's Acquittal

The civil case stems from a criminal prosecution that attracted statewide attention.

Small was accused of physically and emotionally abusing his teenage daughter during family disputes.

The allegations included claims that the mayor struck his daughter during an argument and attempted to influence her account of the incidents.

Small denied the accusations and maintained that the case involved private family disagreements rather than criminal abuse.

Following a trial in December 2025, an Atlantic County jury found the mayor not guilty on all counts.

The acquittal was followed by the dismissal of related charges against his wife, Atlantic City Schools Superintendent Dr. La'Quetta Small, and Days-Chapman.

Days-Chapman had been accused of failing to report allegations involving the teenager.

All three subsequently joined the civil action against Reynolds, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office and Detective Sgt. Ryan Ripley, the lead investigator in the criminal case.

The lawsuit alleges malicious prosecution, civil rights violations and other misconduct.

According to the latest filings, the plaintiffs have proposed settlement amounts totaling $50 million: $25 million for Marty Small, $15 million for La'Quetta Small and $10 million for Days-Chapman.

Those figures are demands made by the plaintiffs, not damages awarded by a court.

Prosecutor's Immunity Becomes Central Legal Question

A significant development in the case involves the legal protections available to prosecutors performing their official duties.

Law360 reported Friday that Small's attorneys have challenged Reynolds' attempt to dismiss the lawsuit based on prosecutorial immunity.

Prosecutors generally receive broad immunity from civil damages for actions closely connected to their role as advocates in criminal proceedings.

However, courts distinguish certain prosecutorial functions from investigative or administrative conduct, which may receive different levels of legal protection.

That distinction could become important in the Small litigation because the complaint challenges not only the decision to prosecute but also investigative tactics, surveillance, the execution of a search warrant and alleged efforts to influence witnesses.

Small's attorneys argue that immunity should not protect the conduct described in their lawsuit.

Attorneys representing Reynolds contend that allowing the case to proceed would undermine established protections designed to permit prosecutors to perform their responsibilities without fear of personal civil liability.

The court has not determined that Reynolds or the other defendants engaged in misconduct.

The dismissal motion is expected to be argued in November.

The outcome could determine whether the lawsuit proceeds to additional litigation, including potential discovery involving internal communications and investigative decisions.

Reynolds Has Defended Original Investigation

Reynolds has previously rejected allegations that the prosecution was politically motivated.

Following the mayor's acquittal and the subsequent dismissal of charges against the other defendants, Reynolds maintained that his office investigated the original allegations honestly and impartially.

He said the investigation began after a referral from the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency in January 2024.

Reynolds also maintained that the daughter's testimony was supported by corroborating evidence.

His office has consistently characterized the prosecution as an effort to investigate allegations of child abuse and protect an alleged victim.

Reynolds' attorney, Jason Orlando, told BreakingAC that he could not comment on pending litigation.

The distinction between a criminal acquittal and civil liability is significant.

A not-guilty verdict means prosecutors failed to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. It does not automatically prove that investigators lacked probable cause to bring charges or that prosecutors acted unlawfully.

Those are separate questions that would need to be resolved through the civil proceedings.

Case Has Also Produced Political Fallout

The criminal prosecution and subsequent acquittal have generated significant controversy throughout Atlantic County.

In February, the Atlantic City branch of the NAACP and local religious leaders called for Reynolds to resign, questioning his handling of the case.

Atlantic City Councilman Kaleem Shabazz, who leads the local NAACP branch, raised concerns about possible political and racial motivations.

Reynolds rejected the suggestion that the investigation was improperly motivated.

The controversy also produced a separate dispute involving Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson.

Following Small's acquittal, Reynolds alleged that Levinson improperly attempted to influence decisions concerning the remaining criminal cases.

Reynolds pursued legal action seeking to prevent what he characterized as interference with prosecutorial discretion.

Levinson publicly criticized the situation and raised concerns about the financial exposure Atlantic County taxpayers could face from litigation involving the Prosecutor's Office.

That dispute is separate from the Small family's civil lawsuit, although both arose from the aftermath of the criminal prosecution.

The broader controversy has raised questions about prosecutorial independence, accountability and the relationship between county government and law enforcement.

What Happens Next

The immediate focus of the Small lawsuit is the defendants' motion to dismiss.

The newly submitted statements from Scoppa and Dorn, along with the certification from the mayor's daughter, are intended to support the plaintiffs' argument that their allegations deserve further consideration by the court.

If the lawsuit survives the dismissal motion, the parties could potentially obtain additional evidence through the discovery process, subject to applicable legal restrictions.

That could include depositions, internal records and communications relevant to the investigation and prosecution.

If the court grants the motion, some or all of the claims could be dismissed, depending on the ruling.

For now, the new statements represent allegations and potential evidence presented by one side in an ongoing civil dispute.

They have not been tested through a full civil trial, and no court has determined that Reynolds, Ripley or the Prosecutor's Office violated the plaintiffs' rights.

The next hearing is expected in November.

South Jersey NewsBeat will continue following the proceedings and any additional evidence or court rulings.