NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Authorities have referred the case of the New Jersey mother accused of taking her young daughter into a tanning booth to a grand jury.

Patricia Krentcil was previously scheduled to appear in court Monday for a hearing on a child endangerment charge. That hearing was canceled once the case was sent to the grand jury.

The 44-year-old, who is bronzed-colored from frequent tanning, has pleaded not guilty.

Krentcil is accused of taking her daughter, who was 5 at the time, into a tanning booth in April. Krentcil said her daughter’s burn came from the sun on an unusually warm day and that she would never take the girl into a tanning booth.

It’s against New Jersey law for anyone under 14 to use a tanning booth.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)