An anti-violence worker accused of harassing a councilwoman last year has pleaded guilty to violating a city ordinance.
Craig Newsome also apologized to Councilwoman LaToya Dunston during a court appearance Monday in Margate, where the case was sent after it was conflicted from being heard in Atlantic City.
The incident stems from the 2023 election season, when Newsome and Dunston got into a verbal dispute reportedly over campaign signs.
Dunston, who was running for re-election in the Second Ward at the time, captured the scene on video.
"Keep talking shit, I'm gonna f*** your husband up," Newsome says, as he leans out the passenger side of a vehicle on Election Day on June 6, 2023.
"Go back to work," she tells Newsome as the recording begins.
He responds that he is off and has two jobs.
At the time, the two were on opposing sides of the election, with Dunston being part of a group vocally opposing Mayor Marty Small, who was backing Dunston's opponent, Viana "Vivi" Bailey.
For her part, Dunston had sponsored a resolution asking the state to investigate claims that city employees have been campaigning while on city time, using government resources.
At the time, Newsome told BreakingAC that Dunston accused him and others of campaigning on city time.
"We were putting lawn signs up," he said. "She pulls up telling us they have us on video campaigning on city time, (which) was clearly a lie. Then she kept accusing us of doing illegal activity during this campaign."
In the video, Dunston tells him to get back to work.
He responds that he is off the clock as he sat in the passenger seat with an unidentified driver.
That is what got him frustrated, he said.
"Get that on tape," Newsome yells, leaning out of the window before again saying, "Keep talking shit, I'm gonna f*** your husband up."
He then repeats the line three more times.
"Is that a threat?" Dunston asks at one point.
"No it ain't no threat, it's a promise," he says before slowly repeating the line one more time.
"It was an election," Newsome said at the time. "Both sides were heated, tempers flared. I don’t have any problems with nobody. I want what’s best for the city."
A disorderly persons charge was filed against him.
Newsome was set to go to trial, but instead pleaded guilty Monday to an Atlantic City ordinance involving "offensive or profane language" within 200 yards of "any of the lands or premises belonging to the Board of Education of the City of Atlantic City or occupied by said Board or on any street or grounds."
He was ordered to pay $157 fine and $33 in court fees, according to the court record.
Newsome is part of One Neighborhood Evolution, the anti-violence unit set up by the mayor to deal with street violence. The aim is to have those who once caused issues in the city be on the side of fixing them.
Dunston declined comment.
Neither Newsome nor the mayor responded a request seeking comment.
