Nutley Mom Due Back In Court

The mother accused of endangering the welfare of her her five-year-old daughter by allowing her to use a tanning salon bed is due back in court June 4 after pleading not guilty yesterday.

Patricia Krentcil, 44 of Nutley is scheduled to appear in Essex County Superior Court again on June 4, after pleading not guilty yesterday, according Katherine Carter, spokeswoman for the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.

Krentcil first appeared yesterday "after 11 a.m." before Roslyn Holmes, a Newark Municipal Judge who hears criminal judicial processing, Carter said.

Krentcil is scheduled to appear before Superior Court Judge Michael Ravin on June 4, Carter said, to answer the charge of second degree endangering the welfare of a child. 

Krentcil has denied the accusations in published reports. Her lawyer John V. Caruso, did not return calls for comment.

Krentcil is charged with one count of endangering the welfare of a child, which is a second degree offense, Carter said. If convicted, she could be jailed for up to a maximum of five years, Carter said.

Nutley Police Chief John Holland said Nutley Police arrested Krentcil for endangering the welfare of her five-year-old daughter at 10:45 a.m. on April 23. Her daughter was burned at a tanning booth at an unspecified Nutley location, according to Holland.

Krentcil posted bail in Nutley and was taken to the Camden County Sheriff’s Department on unrelated charges on April 23. She later posted a $25,000 bail and was released in Camden, according to Holland.

Holland said that 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 in New Jersey.