A New Jersey woman was arrested after police said she brought her 5-year-old daughter into a tanning booth, causing the girl to suffer burns.
UPDATE: Tanning Booth Mom Denies Charges, Admits Excessive Tanning
But 44-year-old Patricia Krentcil, who was charged with second-degree child endangerment, said 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 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."
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 after being released on $25,000 bail. "There's tons of moms that bring their children in."
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"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 -- who has turned 6 since the incident -- 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.
"My daughter's a beautiful girl who loves school, who had to go through this, and I think it's traumatizing for a little girl who did nothing wrong but got a little sunburned," Krentcil said.
She appeared in court Wednesday and pleaded not guilty.
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