Opinion
03-14-2024
In the Matter of Roberto ESTREMERA, Petitioner, v. Colin FRASER, as Acting Director of Special Housing and Inmate Disciplinary Programs, Respondent.
Roberto Estremera, Bronx, petitioner pro se. Letitia James, Attorney General, Albany (Kate H. Nepveu of counsel), for respondents.
Roberto Estremera, Bronx, petitioner pro se. Letitia James, Attorney General, Albany (Kate H. Nepveu of counsel), for respondents.
Before: Garry, P.J., Clark, Pritzker, Fisher and Powers, JJ.
MEMORANDUM AND JUDGMENT
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 the Acting Commissioner of Corrections and Community Supervision finding petitioner guilty of violating a prison disciplinary rule.
Petitioner was charged in a misbehavior report with refusing a direct order, engaging in disorderly conduct, creating a disturbance and engaging in an unhygienic act stemming from petitioner pushing an unknown liquid from his cell into the company hallway. Following a tier III disciplinary hearing, petitioner was found guilty of engaging in an unhygienic act and not guilty of the remaining charges. That determination was affirmed upon administrative appeal, prompting petitioner to commence this CPLR article 78 proceeding.
[1–3] We confirm. The misbehavior report, testimony from its author, the videotape evidence and petitioner’s testimony that he pushed water from an overflowing toilet out of his cell and into the company hallway provide substantial evidence to support the determination finding petitioner guilty of engaging in an unhygienic act (see Matter of Dawes v. Selsky, 247 A.D.2d 773, 773-774, 669 N.Y.S.2d 252 [3d Dept. 1998], lv denied 92 N.Y.2d 802, 677 N.Y.S.2d 72, 699 N.E.2d 432 [1998]). To the extent that petitioner contends that the entire disciplinary hearing was not recorded because the video of the incident was initially viewed off the record, such contention is not preserved as petitioner did not object at the hearing at the time that it could have been addressed (see Matter of Washington v. Annucci, 160 A.D.3d 1248, 1249, 75 N.Y.S.3d 324 [3d Dept. 2018]). Petitioner’s remaining contention alleging Hearing Officer bias is also unpreserved as it was not raised on administrative appeal (see Matter of Stewart v. Collado, 214 A.D.3d 1229, 1230, 183 N.Y.S.3d 867 [3d Dept. 2023]). In any event, were we to consider these issues, we would find them to be without merit.
Garry, P.J., Clark, Pritzker, Fisher and Powers, JJ., concur.
ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed.