? Former Suffolk Legis. Allan Binder pleaded not guilty Monday to bribery charges in connection to a Northport golf course contract.

Suffolk District Attorney Thomas Spota said Binder accepted about $18,000 in bribes over a four-year period from Neal Trabich, president of Global Golf Inc. Global Golf won a contract in 1997 to operate a publicly owned golf course in Northport.

Spota said in exchange for the bribes, Binder facilitated Global Golf?s selection for the course.

In addition, records show that Binder voted to approve Trabich?s 10-year contract to operate the Bergen Point golf course in West Babylon, Spota said.

Investigators say they have a statement from Binder on tape and on paper related to the charges. Binder?s lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, however, emphasizes the statement is not a confession.

?There can't be a confession of something you didn't do,? Brafman told News 12 Long Island. ?There may be a suggestion they had a business relationship, but there was never was a corrupt agreement.?

Binder was charged with second-degree bribe receiving, two counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing and one count of official misconduct. He was released on $5,000 cash bail and was forced to surrender his passport.

Binder, 47, served in the Legislature from 1990-2005 because of term limits. That year, he lost a bid to become Huntington?s town supervisor. He?s the fourth legislator involved in a six-year corruption probe.

Binder faces five to 15 years in prison if found guilty on the bribery charge. He is due back in court in February.

To watch previous News 12 Long Island coverage of corruption in Suffolk, go to Channel 612 on your iO digital cable box and select iO Extra.

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