A FORMER business manager of Stan Lee has been arrested on elder abuse charges involving the late comic book legend.
Keya Morgan appeared in court in Arizona, where he was arrested after fleeing from California.
He appeared on Sunday in Maricopa County Superior Court on a charge of being a fugitive of justice.
Court documents show Los Angeles police alerted authorities in Phoenix that Morgan's mobile phone was being used in north Scottsdale.
Police say the 43-year-old Morgan was found in a house with his mother and arrested without incident.
Mr Morgan faces felony charges including theft, embezzlement, forgery or fraud against an elder adult, and false imprisonment of an elder adult. It is unclear when he will be extradited to California to face these charges.
Lee died in November at the age of 95.
Los Angeles County prosecutors say Morgan sought to capitalise on the Marvel Comic mastermind's wealth and exert influence over Lee even though he had no authority to act on his behalf.
Prosecutors say Morgan pocketed more than $US262,000 ($A378,000) from autograph-signing sessions Lee did in May 2018.
Morgan at one point also took Lee from his Hollywood Hills home to a Beverly Hills condominium "where Morgan had more control over Lee", according to California authorities.
Lee's daughter said in a request for a restraining order last year that Morgan was manipulating the mentally declining Lee, preventing him from seeing family and friends, and trying to take control of his money and business affairs.
Alex Kessel, a lawyer for Morgan, has said his client never abused or took advantage of Lee.
Australian Associated Press
