Bronzed New Jersey mom, salon owner deny woman’s young daughter was sunburned by tanning booth

NEWARK, N.J. – A deeply tanned New Jersey mother accused of causing skin burns to her young daughter by taking her into a tanning booth pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a child endangerment charge, and the tanning salon’s owner appeared to corroborate her story.

Patricia Krentcil faces a second-degree child endangerment charge. Through her attorney, she pleaded not guilty in Newark Municipal Court on Wednesday morning. Krentcil is free on $2,500 cash bond.

Before Wednesday’s court hearing, Krentcil, whose skin has a deep bronze colour from regular visits to the tanning salon, called the accusation a lie.

“It’s all made up,” she said.

She told The Associated Press her daughter, who was 5 at the time of the alleged incident in mid-April and has since turned 6, got sunburned by being outside on an unseasonably warm day. She said her daughter, however, had mentioned to school officials when she complained of itching that she had been to a tanning salon with her mother.

Krentcil had told various TV stations her daughter was in the room at the salon but not in the stand-up tanning booth.

The owner of City Tropics Salon in Nutley, who only identified himself as Anthony, said employees who were there on the day in question told him the girl remained outside with her father and brother and didn’t go into the tanning booth while Krentcil was inside.

He said a sign is posted in the salon that refers to New Jersey state law barring anyone under 14 from using a tanning salon.

“I would never harm a child,” he said. “I have seven kids of my own. It’s just ridiculous.”

Police in Nutley told The Nutley Sun newspaper they were called to the child’s school April 24 because the kindergartner was in pain from a “pretty severe sunburn.”

The child is still living at home with her mother, Caruso told Municipal Court Judge Roslyn Holmes-Grant, though he said the state’s child welfare agency is monitoring the family.

Krentcil said she loves tanning and has visited salons for many years but would not do anything to jeopardize her daughter’s health.

“Never in my life would I endanger my child by putting her in a tanning booth. I’m not dumb,” she said before her scheduled hearing. Outside court, she called herself “a wonderful mother.”

Krentcil remained free on a $2,500 cash bond. She is scheduled to make her next court appearance June 4.

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