Opinion
12-08-2016
In the Matter of Darius ASHLEY, Petitioner, v. Anthony J. ANNUCCI, as Acting Commissioner of Corrections and Community Supervision, Respondent.
Darius Ashley, Malone, petitioner pro se. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Frank Brady of counsel), for respondent.
Darius Ashley, Malone, petitioner pro se.
Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Frank Brady of counsel), for respondent.
Before: McCARTHY, J.P., LYNCH, CLARK, MULVEY and AARONS, JJ.
Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 (transferred to this Court by order of the Supreme Court, entered in Albany County) to review a determination of respondent finding petitioner guilty of violating certain prison disciplinary rules.
Petitioner was charged in three misbehavior reports with multiple prison disciplinary violations. The first misbehavior report charged him with assaulting staff, engaging in violent conduct, disobeying a direct order, possession of a weapon, possession of an altered item and failing to comply with search procedures. According to that misbehavior report, petitioner was ordered to exit his cell for a cell search but, when the cell gate was open, petitioner moved to the back of his cell, removed an ice-pick-type weapon from his pocket and attacked the correction officers, including stabbing one of them seven times. In addition to the shank-type weapon used in the assault, a cutting-type weapon consisting of a flat piece of metal sharpened on one edge was found on petitioner's bed after he was subdued and placed in mechanical restraints. The second misbehavior report charged petitioner with possession of a weapon after a search of his cell following the assault incident revealed two sharpened toothbrushes inside a baby powder container. The third misbehavior report charged petitioner with possession of an authorized item in an unauthorized area and smuggling after he was placed on contraband watch and a butane lighter was found in his feces.
At a combined tier III disciplinary hearing, petitioner pleaded guilty to the charges contained in the second and third misbehavior reports. With regard to the first misbehavior report, petitioner pleaded guilty with an explanation to the weapons charge and not guilty to the remaining charges. Following the hearing, petitioner was found guilty of all nine charges. The determination was affirmed on administrative appeal with a modification of the penalty imposed. Petitioner then commenced this CPLR article 78 proceeding.
Initially, petitioner's plea of guilty to the charges in the second and third misbehavior reports and to the weapons charge in the first misbehavior report precludes him from challenging the sufficiency of the evidence supporting the determination with respect to those charges (see Matter of Shufelt v. Annucci, 138 A.D.3d 1336, 1337, 31 N.Y.S.3d 243 [2016] ). With regard to the remaining charges, the detailed misbehavior reports, supporting documentation, testimony at the hearing and petitioner's guilty pleas provide substantial evidence to support the determination of guilt (see Matter of Ford v. Smith, 23 A.D.3d 874, 875, 803 N.Y.S.2d 821 [2005], lv. denied 6 N.Y.3d 708, 813 N.Y.S.2d 44, 846 N.E.2d 475 [2006] ). Any alleged inconsistencies in the hearing testimony presented a credibility issue for the Hearing Officer to resolve (see Matter of Sherman v. Annucci, 142 A.D.3d 1196, 1197, 37 N.Y.S.3d 635 [2016] ; Matter of Hyatt v. Fischer, 118 A.D.3d 1192, 1192, 987 N.Y.S.2d 267 [2014] ). Similarly, petitioner's explanation for engaging in violent conduct against the correction officers also presented a credibility issue for resolution by the Hearing Officer (see Matter of Dancy v. Goord, 58 A.D.3d 922, 923, 869 N.Y.S.2d 806 [2009] ).
Petitioner's contention that the Hearing Officer improperly presided over the hearing because he was involved in the investigation of the incident is without merit. The unusual incident report indicates that the Hearing Officer authorized that petitioner be placed on contraband watch, which has been held not to be a basis for disqualification of a Hearing Officer (see Matter of Perkins v. Fischer, 78 A.D.3d 1355, 1356, 911 N.Y.S.2d 226 [2010] ). We are unpersuaded by petitioner's contention that the penalty imposed was harsh and excessive. Given the serious nature of the incident, evidence in the record that the assault was premeditated and petitioner's disciplinary history, we do not find that the imposition of 78 months and 16 days in the special housing unit is so shocking to one's sense of fairness so as to be excessive (see Matter of Rogers v. Prack, 118 A.D.3d 1223, 1224–1225, 987 N.Y.S.2d 710 [2014], lv. granted 24 N.Y.3d 916, 2015 WL 652132 [2015] ; Matter of Ford v. Smith, 23 A.D.3d at 875–876, 803 N.Y.S.2d 821 ).
We have reviewed petitioner's remaining contentions, including that he was improperly denied documentary evidence and that the Hearing Officer was biased, and find them to be without merit.ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed.