"Bronzed" NJ mom Patricia Krentcil pleads not guilty to putting daughter in tanning booth

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

(CBS) NUTLEY, N.J. - New Jersey mother Patricia Krentcil appeared in Superior Court in Newark Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to a child endangerment charge after allegedly allowing her 6-year-old daughter to tan at a salon.

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

CBS New York reports the 44-year-old did not speak during her brief court appearance, except to say "Thank you, your honor, have a nice day."

Krentcil has denied the charge, saying she would "never permit" her daughter Anna to go tanning.

"My client is 150 percent innocent," said Krentcil's attorney John D. Caruso Wednesday. "That child was never in that tanning booth."

The mother of five has previously admitted to bringing Anna into the salon but said she's never allowed the fair-skinned girl into the tanning bed.

"It didn't happen," Krentcil said. "She's 6-years-old. Yes, she does go tanning with mommy but not in the booth."

But according to prosecutors, Krentcil took her 6-year-old to a tanning salon near her home actually brought the child into a tanning bed, causing a slight sunburn.

When a school nurse asked how she got it, Anna simply said "I go tanning with mommy." Police were then called and Krentcil was arrested.

Krentcil calls it all a misunderstanding and said her daughter got the sunburn from playing in the backyard.

"Look at my daughter's picture, she's as pale as a ghost, she has red hair," Krentcil said outside court Wednesday. "I'm a great mother, I'm a wonderful mother. I would die right now for her."

Meanwhile, Anna is still living with her mother.

"She's home, they're not taking her away. She's home," Krentcil said.

Anyone under the age of 14 is prohibited from using tanning salons in the state of New Jersey.

Krentcil's next court appearance is set for June 4.

More on Crimesider:

May 2, 2012 - Patricia Krentcil, New Jersey mother, accused of putting her 6-year-old girl in tanning bed

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

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by Bandofotters May 4, 2012 1:12 PM EDT: Did you have to post a photo of the tanned mother? I won't sleep for weeks!; Reply to this comment


by rwsmith29456 May 4, 2012 2:24 AM EDT: I've got a great new idea. Tanning with ionizing radiation.; Reply to this comment


by mrgmotwani May 3, 2012 2:04 PM EDT: From the look of the mother, she must be obsessed with tanning. Talk about over-doing it.; Reply to this comment


by kerrco May 3, 2012 9:52 AM EDT: Oh please! Every time I see a picture of this woman, she gets darker and darker. If this isn't photo edited, I don't know what is. Anything to make a good story.; Reply to this comment


by debbyt1-2009 May 3, 2012 9:44 AM EDT: I'm thinking before this woman is allowed to tan anymore, she needs to sign a document saying our tax dollars will not be used in any way to pay for her care when she gets skin cancer.; Reply to this comment


by tammydel2009 May 3, 2012 9:24 AM EDT: Very Disturbing!!!!!!!!!!!; Reply to this comment


by jerryomara May 3, 2012 4:07 AM EDT: My goodness she looks like a handbag. This woman is not equipped to rais a child; Reply to this comment


by venusvegasvada May 3, 2012 2:55 AM EDT: Was the tanning salon on fire?; Reply to this comment

by lonestar9000 May 3, 2012 2:51 AM EDT

People with odd obsessions like this almost always end up involving their children in it. It is a way of legitimizing that obsession in their own minds.

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by collie61 May 3, 2012 9:37 AM EDT: Perfectly said. Kudos

by sunide May 3, 2012 1:20 AM EDT

News media has altered her pic. Check out the on released from the Prosecutor's Office... So not the same.

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by brewergal May 3, 2012 9:44 AM EDT: When I saw the other photos of her, it was obvious that the news media had doctored her photo. I really don't believe the child was in the tanning booth and while overuse of tanning beds is not the safest practice, it's not right to alter a person's appearance in order to garner attention for the story. I've seen a lot of over tanned folks but never have I seen a person look this black.