Atlantic County's prosecutor faces some major battles this week, in the aftermath of the biggest loss of his term.
A news conference "to denounce the recent performance of the Atlantic County prosecutor" is set for 10 a.m. Monday, the NAACP's Atlantic City Branch announced in a media advisory.
They are expected to call for William Reynolds' ouster as prosecutor.
The move comes less than two months after a jury acquitted Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small in a child abuse and witness tampering case that made national headlines for nearly two years.
Small and his supporters have alleged from the beginning that the case was not about justice but politics tinged with racism motivated by those who have been unsuccessful in defeating the mayor at the ballot.
Reynolds has said it was an attempt to protect an abuse victim and show that no one is above the law.
The not guilty verdict on all counts led the Prosecutor's Office to move for the dismissal of related charges against Small's wife, Atlantic City Schools Superintendent Dr. La'Quetta Small, and Atlantic City High School Principal Dr. Constance Days-Chapman.
The decision to drop the charges apparently took too long for Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson, who made his frustration clear on multiple radio shows and in alleged communication he had with Reynolds behind the scenes.
Levinson's actions constitute interference with his office, Reynolds alleges in a civil complaint moving for an injunction "to restrain unlawful interference by the Atlantic County Executive in the exercise of prosecutorial discretion."
The push to drop the remaining cases started the day after the acquittal, with a phone call initiated by Atlantic County Counsel Lynn Hughes and Deputy County Counsel Arthur Murray, Reynolds' complaint states.
READ THE PROSECUTOR'S COMPLAINT
"They stated that the Atlantic County Executive wanted me to take into consideration the taxpayers of Atlantic County when deciding whether to prosecute the remaining two matters related to the State v Marty Small prosecution," Reynolds wrote in a memorandum meant to memorialize the conversation.
Even both attorneys "stated that they did not agree that the call should have been made at all, and that even if such a call were to be made, they believed the timing was poor and should not have occurred until next week or after the holiday," the memo continues.
As a result, Reynolds wants Levinson barred from discussing ongoing cases, and for his office to have funding for outside counsel for the remainder of his time in office.
In the county's response, Murray calls the filing "a vague and ambiguous cause of action."
The executive would not know what cases are off limits and prosecutor has not identified when outside representation would be necessary.
If the court would decided outside counsel is necessary, there is no reason that cannot be funded within the office's budget, Murray wrote.
Additionally, as much as $17,499 can be spent without the need for approval by the county Board of Commissioners.
As for that board, it is not clear what support the prosecutor has there, although at least one member definitely is not on his side.
Commissioner Collins Days is the father of Days-Chapman.
The prosecutor previously asked that the board have Days abstain from any votes involving his office, but has since dropped that request.
Days, who leads Atlantic City's Second Baptist Church, is expected to be at Monday's press conference, along with the Rev. Steffie Bartley who heads the National Action Network's Northeast region.
It's similar to the group who held a rally for the Smalls after their home was raided but before charges were filed.
At that rally, Councilman and Atlantic City NAACP President Kaleem Shabazz alleged racism in the prosecutor's actions.
But about six weeks later, Shabazz led the NAACP in honoring Reynolds.
Shabazz authored the media advisory for Monday's gathering to denounce Reynolds.
Meanwhile, the prosecutor will spend part of the day in mediation with Levinson concerning the civil claim.
