The attorney for a contractor charged in a bribery case with Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez says his client will plead not guilty.

Carlos Costa of West Hartford is set to be arraigned Friday morning in Hartford Superior Court on bribery and fabricating evidence charges. His attorney, William Gerace, said Friday while entering court that Costa denies the allegations.

Prosecutors say Costa did $40,000 worth of renovations to Perez’s home in 2006 and didn’t expect to be paid, because he thought doing the work for free would give him access to city contracts.

Perez is charged with receiving a bribe and fabricating evidence. Prosecutors say Perez paid Costa half the cost of the renovations, but only after investigators confronted him in 2007.

Perez says he committed no crime. Costa’s lawyer says his client is a hardworking contractor and not a criminal. (AP)