Overview
- Jurors found Small not guilty of endangering the welfare of a child, aggravated assault, making terroristic threats, and witness tampering.
- The verdict was delivered at noon Thursday after two days of deliberations following closing arguments earlier in the week.
- Prosecutors had alleged repeated assaults, including a broom attack said to render the teen unconscious, and presented photos, recordings, and a pediatrician’s opinion that injuries were nonaccidental.
- The defense argued the teen recanted key claims, cited a nurse practitioner who could not confirm a concussion, presented more than 40 character witnesses, and Small denied striking his daughter with a broom.
- Separate cases remain pending for La’Quetta Small, scheduled for trial in January on child endangerment and simple assault charges, and for high school principal Constance Days-Chapman on official misconduct.