Howard Spira’s arraignment on charges of trying...

Howard Spira’s arraignment on charges of trying to extort money from New York Yankee owner George Steinbrenner was postponed to July 5.

Spira was indicted in Tampa, Fla., on March 23, but the case was moved to New York after his attorney, David Greenfield, complained that Steinbrenner would have an unfair advantage in Florida.

Spira, 30, appeared with Greenfield in Manhattan Federal Court for the brief hearing before U.S. Magistrate Michael Dolinger. Afterward, Greenfield said Spira will plead not guilty to the charges and that the case will go to trial, possibly later this year or early next year.

Steinbrenner originally said he paid Spira $40,000 “out of the goodness of my heart.” Later, he claimed he gave Spira the money to stop him from disclosing embarrassing information about former Yankee employees.

Spira said he was paid to collect damaging information on outfielder Dave Winfield, who had a longtime feud with Steinbrenner. The Yankees traded Winfield to the Angels last month.