Man Pleads Not Guilty in Condo Embezzlement Case : Courts: More than $1 million was allegedly siphoned from the Oak Park Calabasas Assn. over eight years.

The owner of a property management company was arraigned Thursday on charges of embezzling $1.4 million from a Calabasas condominium association, whose residents grew suspicious after noticing a steady decline in the quality of their landscaping, authorities said.

Spencer John Gobus, 46, who pleaded not guilty to three felony counts in Los Angeles Municipal Court, is accused of stealing the money from the Oak Park Calabasas condominiums between Feb. 1, 1985 to July 31, 1993.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Allan C. Fork, who is prosecuting the case, said at the time Gobus was operating a Westwood company which had been hired by the condominium association to manage the 268-unit complex on Park Granada in Calabasas.

“He had access to their accounts and diverted money to his own account,” Fork said.

An attorney representing Gobus could not be reached for comment.

In addition to the embezzlement allegations, Gobus also stands accused of forging the signature of an association board member on a check and altering another check for his fees by filling in a higher figure.

Fork said residents launched an investigation and hired an accountant to examine their books after the building came to appear shabby.

“It was obvious to the accountant early on that there were very serious problems,” Fork said.

Lynne Cohen, a current association board member, said the accountant quickly uncovered that no income tax statements had been filed on behalf of the association over the last 10 years.

“The property was in a state of disarray,” Cohen said. “We couldn’t imagine where the homeowners fees were going.”

Cohen, said the huge loss has forced some residents into foreclosure, prompted a high delinquency rate in homeowners fees and has been particularly tough on elderly residents living off Social Security. She described Gobus as a man who “captivated” residents with his personality.

“He had friends and admirers in the complex,” Cohen said. “There were people who just really liked him.”

Police arrested Gobus at the West Los Angeles police station Tuesday following an eight month probe, said LAPD Officer David Crew, who investigated the case. Gobus faces one charge of grand theft by embezzlement, with the special allegation that he stole more than $1 million, and two charges of forgery, Fork said. His bail was set Thursday at $1.4 million.

If convicted of the charges Gobus faces a maximum sentence of six years in prison, Fork said. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Sept. 20.