Spartaco Club ex-president released on bond, hearing on theft charges scheduled in New Kensington

The former president of the Spartaco Sporting Club in New Kensington turned himself in to a New Kensington district court Thursday to face charges of theft and illegally taking ownership of the club.

Phil DiLucente, an attorney representing Glenn Hofer, 82 of O’Hara, said Hofer turned himself in at District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr.’s courtroom. He was released on a $10,000 unsecured bond.

Hofer’s preliminary hearing is scheduled Oct. 9 before Pallone.

“I am hopeful that the five felonies and misdemeanor can be resolved,” DiLucente said. “I have reached out to the attorney for the club in order to resolve this matter for my 82-year-old Vietnam veteran client. He currently is on disability in part due to the war and being subjected to Agent Orange.”

New Kensington police filed charges of theft, burglary, forgery and tampering with a public record against Hofer on Tuesday.

Hofer was president of the Spartaco Sporting Club until September, police said.

The current club president, Bruce Saellam, told police he called 911 in July believing that liquor, documents and money was missing from the club.

A police investigation found that the property deed to the club was transferred to Hofer on June 10, although he was not a member at that time, police said.

Hofer told TribLive news partner WTAE he was entitled to take control of the the club as its president to recoup what he says the club owed him. Hofer said he took out a reverse mortgage on his home to help fund upgrades inside the club, and was expecting to be reimbursed.

“I owned the building. I had the deed. I didn’t break in. If I walk in this house, I didn’t break in. I own it,” Hofer told WTAE, referring to his family home.

Saellam told WTAE that the club is owned by its members and that the deed transfer was illegal.

Police wrote in the complaint that Hofer justified the deed transfer by claiming the club owes him more than $173,000.

“Not only am I 82 years old, I’m 100% disabled. Vietnam veteran,” Hofer said, adding, “The only little bit of money we get is from the VA, and then they get $173,000 and don’t want to pay me back.”