SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) – Patricia Dunn, the Hewlett-Packard Co. chairwoman forced out over the company’s ill-fated spying probe into boardroom leaks, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to four felony identity theft and fraud charges.

Dunn appeared briefly for her arraignment in Santa Clara County Superior Court and was released on her own recognizance after her lawyer entered the plea for her.

She and her attorney, Raj Chatterjee, declined to comment as they left court.

Dunn, 53, is one of five people charged in the computer and printer maker’s clandestine efforts to unmask board members who discussed company business with reporters. Investigators used a shady ruse known as “pretexting,” which involved pretending to be someone else to obtain personal calling records.

Testifying before a congressional panel in September, Dunn said she was repeatedly reassured by HP’s lawyers about the legality of its detectives’ subterfuge.

She resigned from HP’s board after the scandal broke in early September. The two-time cancer survivor recently began chemotherapy for ovarian cancer.

Kevin Hunsaker, HP’s former ethics chief who allegedly directed the probe, pleaded not guilty last week and was released.

Three private investigators – Ronald DeLia, Matthew DePante and Bryan Wagner – have also entered not guilty pleas and were released.

A hearing is scheduled Friday to discuss the timetable for future proceedings.

The defendants each face four counts: use of false or fraudulent pretenses to obtain confidential information from a public utility; unauthorized access to computer data; identity theft; and conspiracy to commit each of those crimes.

Each charge carries a fine of up to $10,000 and three years in prison.

AP-ES-11-15-06 1713EST