Opinion
2012-12-13
In the Matter of Terrell HALL, Petitioner, v. Brian FISCHER, as Commissioner of Corrections and Community Supervision, Respondent.
Terrell Hall, Malone, petitioner pro se. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Peter H. Schiff of counsel), for respondent.
Terrell Hall, Malone, petitioner pro se. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Peter H. Schiff of counsel), for respondent.
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 which found petitioner guilty of violating certain prison disciplinary rules.
Following an investigation, petitioner was charged in a misbehavior report with violating prison disciplinary rules prohibiting gang activity and making threats after he allegedly ordered a fellow gang member to threaten another inmate. At the end of a tier III disciplinary hearing, petitioner was found guilty as charged. Following an unsuccessful administrative appeal,*923he commenced this CPLR article 78 proceeding.
We confirm. The Hearing Officer properly credited the testimony of the inmate who was threatened and the correction sergeant who investigated the incident, as well as confidential information derived from the investigation, all of which provided substantial evidence to support the determination of guilt ( see Matter of Gomez v. Fischer, 89 A.D.3d 1341, 1341, 934 N.Y.S.2d 521 [2011];Matter of Hines v. Goord, 29 A.D.3d 1204, 1205, 814 N.Y.S.2d 807 [2006] ). Petitioner had no right to access the confidential information and, contrary to his assertion, that information was appropriately assessed by the Hearing Officer and found to be credible ( see Matter of Williams v. Fischer, 18 N.Y.3d 888, 890, 940 N.Y.S.2d 531, 963 N.E.2d 1232 [2012];Matter of Brooks v. Fischer, 92 A.D.3d 987, 988, 937 N.Y.S.2d 637 [2012] ). Petitioner's remaining claims, to the extent they are properly before us, have been considered and rejected.
ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed.