Town of Niagara supervisor Steven Richards pleaded not guilty Friday after being arraigned on a 28 count indictment in Niagara County Court.
Three of the charges are felonies.
Richards was the focus of an 18 month long investigation by the FBI and the State Attorney General. The charges center around the use of town work crews, equipment, and materials on private property involving a Richards family business.
Richards fired back at the allegations at a town board meeting Thursday night, proclaiming his innocence. He called the situation "a political hatchet job" crafted by his enemies and says he will fight the charges.