Opinion
11-10-2016
In the Matter of Anthony FOSTER, Appellant, v. Albert PRACK, as Director of Special Housing and Inmate Disciplinary Programs, et al., Respondents.
Anthony Foster, Attica, appellant pro se. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Owen Demuth of counsel), for respondents.
Anthony Foster, Attica, appellant pro se.
Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Owen Demuth of counsel), for respondents.
Appeal from a judgment of the Supreme Court (Hayden, J.), entered October 5, 2015 in Chemung County, which dismissed petitioner's application, in a proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78, to review a determination of the Commissioner of Corrections and Community Supervision finding petitioner guilty of violating a prison disciplinary rule.Petitioner was charged in a misbehavior report with use of a controlled substance after his urine twice tested positive for the presence of cannabinoids. Following a tier III disciplinary hearing, petitioner was found guilty and that determination was affirmed upon administrative appeal. Petitioner commenced this CPLR article 78 proceeding challenging the determination and, following joinder of issue, Supreme Court dismissed the petition. This appeal ensued.
We are unpersuaded by petitioner's contention that the Hearing Officer erred in denying petitioner's request to call certain witnesses. The proffered testimony of inmate witnesses with regard to their personal experience with drug-related testing, as well as documentation in connection with another inmate's disciplinary hearing, were irrelevant as to whether petitioner was guilty of the charge (see Matter of Mullamphy v. Fischer, 112 A.D.3d 1177, 1177, 976 N.Y.S.2d 628 [2013] ; Matter of Williams v. Fischer, 73 A.D.3d 1364, 1365, 900 N.Y.S.2d 792 [2010] ). Furthermore, the additional information sought regarding the authorization for the urinalysis testing was properly considered redundant given the testimony already received (see Matter of Sheppard v. Bezio, 62 A.D.3d 1189, 1190, 880 N.Y.S.2d 365 [2009] ; Matter of Antinuche v. Goord, 16 A.D.3d 743, 744, 790 N.Y.S.2d 324 [2005] ). To the extent that petitioner claims that he was improperly denied the right to counsel, it is well settled that an inmate has no right to counsel during a disciplinary hearing (see Matter of Laureano v. Kuhlmann, 75 N.Y.2d 141, 146, 551 N.Y.S.2d 184, 550 N.E.2d 437 [1990] ; Matter of Jeckel v. New York State Dept. of Corr., 111 A.D.3d 1180, 1181, 975 N.Y.S.2d 697 [2013] ). We have reviewed petitioner's remaining contentions and find them to be without merit.
ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed, without costs.
PETERS, P.J., GARRY, EGAN JR., DEVINE and AARONS, JJ., concur.