A podiatrist from Sands Point is accused of writing phony prescriptions for painkillers and then selling the drugs outside a high school in Port Washington.

Dr. William Levine, 42, pleaded not guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance and possession of a weapon. Law enforcement officials say Levine, who practices in Brooklyn, was arrested as part of a sting operation and had a loaded handgun with him at the time of his arrest.

Levine allegedly wrote prescriptions for drugs like Xanax, Vicodin and Oxycodon in the names of patients and family members. Prosecutors say he would then fill them in pharmacies across Nassau County and sell the pills on the street.

?This man could have chosen anywhere to do his illegal activity, but he chose a school, where our children could have been seriously hurt,? Street Narcotics Bureau Chief Teri Corrigan says. ?Anyone in the community could have been seriously hurt. And it was purely for his own greed.?

No kids appear to be involved, but Port Washington Superintendent of Schools Dr. Geoffrey Gordon says it?s a dangerous situation nonetheless.

?To have someone come from outside the community and be in the vicinity of a school with that kind of paraphernalia and weapons is absolutely frightening,? Gordon says.