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Subscribe to RSSA New Jersey woman arrested after police said she brought her 5-year-old daughter into a tanning booth said Wednesday that she was innocent of the charges but admits to excessive tanning herself.
Patricia Krentcil, 44, pleaded not guilty to second-degree child endangerment and said outside court that she is a "wonderful mother."
Asked whether she admits to excessive tanning, Krentcil said "yes," but insisted she would never subject her red-haired, fair-skinned daughter to the heat of a tanning bed.
The girl, who authorities said suffered a sunburn from the tanning booth, was allowed to stay in the home but is now being monitored by state child welfare workers.
For more, visit NBCNewYork.com
Krentcil insists her daughter was never exposed to the tanning booth's UV rays and instead got slightly sunburned while playing outside on a warm day.
The girl's father told NBC 4 New York that his daughter told classmates at school that she "went tanning with Mommy." He thinks a teacher overheard, inaccurately connected the girl's sunburn to the tanning salon trip and contacted police.
"This whole big thing happened, and everyone got involved," said Rich Krentcil. "It was 85 degrees outside, she got sunburned. That's it. That's all that happened."
Julio Cortez / AP
Patricia Krentcil, left, stands with her lawyer, John Caruso, during a court appearance on charges of child endangerment at the Essex County Superior Court, Wednesday, May 2.
Patricia Krentcil said she treats her tanning salon trips as an errand in which she brings along her daughter, but insists the booth lights were never exposed to the girl.
"It's like taking your daughter to go food shopping," she told NBC 4 New York at her Nutley, N.J. home on Tuesday after being released on $25,000 bail. "There's tons of moms that bring their children in."
"I tan, she doesn't tan," she continued. "I'm in the booth, she's in the room. That's all there is to it."
The incident happened over a week ago, but there did not appear to be any burns on the little girl Tuesday.
Patricia Krentcil said she's been visiting her local salon for more than 10 years, and doesn't know why her visits there with her daughter have suddenly been called into question.
In New Jersey, children under 14 are not allowed to tan at indoor salons, while those 14 to 17 years old may do so with signed parental consent.
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But why did they show a pic of the grandma? And who paid to have her bronzed?
"Honey, what's cooking? Oh... it's you!"
Wow, she looks really bad for 44. Her skin looks like leather. She needs to stop tanning and get to a dermatologist right away! And, no child should ever use a tanning bed - that's nuts!
The idea that a child can be taken from her mother, her mother charged with child endangerment for a sunburn is frightening; most of the ideas expressed here, the majority harshly judging this woman for her excessive tan and apparently supporting this kind of Big Brother "justice" is horrifying. Why would anyone have chlidren anymore in the current "arrest the parent" environment?
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/12/how-tanning-changes-the-brain/
It would appear that tanning can be an addictive behavior.. Google for more articles.
It would be very adult-like if the people who only have rude comments would take a break. This woman might have a self-image problem and those of you showing absolutely no empathy but using her to post cyber bullying remarks by name-calling, etc, should think about being responsible when posting to a public forum, where anyone, including this woman, can read your posts.
I am not sure why people feel the need to write rude remarks about this woman's appearance. So sad there is such little empathy being shown.
I think the disparaging remarks should be saved for the salon owner who obviously feels no personal responsibility towards her tanning clients.... SEEING ONLY DOLLAR SIGNS!!!
come on every single day these comment boards are filled with racist remarks and political nonsense. You're the only person wanting to show any empathy for Leatherface. Stop making excuses for her. This is one of the only times you'll find the comment boards in general agreement...get off your soapbox. We all know it's an addictive behavior and that she obviously has an image problem...Look at the friggin picture.
And im from Jersey, im so ashamed LOL. we aren't all nuts..
That woman looks like a ghost with white features and black skin. Does she understand how ugly she looks?? I guess she doesn't have a mirror in the house. Give me her address, I will send her a body length mirror. She looks crazy, probably belongs to the nut house.
my son had to do a essay in school about cross tanning
and it is far worse for you than one or the other ways of tanning.
cross tanning is when you use the tanning beds and then go out in the sun.
do these people know what they are doing to their skin?
its not like we don't know the outcome from years of abuse.
this is why people who drink, eat smoke too much and know how harmful it it for them, why do they keep on doing it?
i think she looks hawt.
Yep, 425 for 15 minutes a pound will do that
OMG! This lady is not in her right mind!
Looks like she snores when she is in the tanning bed because even her teeth are tanned
skeletor
The tanning salon should not allow a five year old to go in there with her. They just want the money. I'm sure the employees talk behind her back about how terrible she looks. They are taking advantage of a lunatic and endangering a child.
The Mummy speaks. UGH!
OooH!!... What a hottie. No really, she looks a little overcooked. lol
Mmmm bacon.
check the kids backside if she has a tan line it is probably from being outside and getting burnt, if there is no tan line she probably got in the tanning bed or shower whatever that woman looks hideous. I tan but not like that.
you can sharpen a straightedge razor on her face dude wtf.
When her husband goes done on her, he says, "Just the way I like it... well done!"
She looks hideous!!!!! Someone near to her needs to intervene......Good grief!!!1
OMG, that lady reminds me of an old Vaudeville singer named Al Jolsen wearing blackface makeup. I dont think I'll order a steak well done tonight!
Have you all seen the movie There's Something About Mary with Cameron Diaz ... she looks like the leather lady lol.
Seriously, she needs to seek psychiatric help, that's NOT normal.
Don't know if she took her daughter into a booth. But it is a good thing that the authorities have them on their radar. This woman looks like less than a stellar parent. Maybe the publicity will save her from herself & she will stop the tanning booth. Such a sad story.
This woman could make anyone dislike bacon...and that's near impossible...
If I owned a tanning bed I would not let that lady any where near my business that would be some @!$%#ty advertising.