Crimesider
Crimesider
May 2, 2012 10:04 AM

Patricia Krentcil, New Jersey mother, accused of putting her 6-year-old girl in tanning bed

By
Crimesider Staff
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Daily Blotter

(CBS/AP) NUTLEY, N.J. - A New Jersey mother is facing criminal charges for child endangerment after police said she put her 6-year-old daughter in a stand-up tanning booth, causing burns.

Pictures: NJ mom accused of putting 6-year-old in tanning booth

On Tuesday, Patricia Krentcil told CBS New York that the whole incident was a big misunderstanding. Krentcil, 44, loves to tan, and has done so her whole life.

"I've been tanning my whole life, going to the beach, tanning salons and so forth," she said.

While the mother of five has that habit, she's adamant she would never tan her 6-year-old, fair-skinned daughter Anna.

"No not at all, not at all, not whatsoever," Krentcil said.

But that's exactly why Nutley police arrested and charged Krentcil with child endangerment. She allegedly took Anna to a tanning salon and into a tanning booth which caused a slight burn.

Krentcil said when the school nurse asked her daughter how she got burned, she simply said, 'I go tanning with mommy.' However, the woman said her daughter's burn was not from getting into a tanning bed but from being outside and playing in the backyard.

"There's not room (in the booth)...I would never permit it...It didn't happen," Krentcil said. "She's 6-years-old. Yes, she does go tanning with mommy but not in the booth," she claimed.

"The whole thing's preposterous!" she said.

New Jersey law prohibits anyone under the age of 14 from using tanning salons.

Krentcil posted $2,500 bond and was released to authorities in Camden County.

7 Photos

NJ mom accused of putting 6-year-old in tanning booth

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