Opinion
11-10-2016
In the Matter of Terry LAWS, Petitioner, v. NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES AND COMMUNITY SUPERVISION, Respondent.
Terry Laws, Beacon, petitioner pro se. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Marcus J. Mastracco of counsel), for respondent.
Terry Laws, Beacon, petitioner pro se.Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Marcus J. Mastracco 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 the Commissioner of Corrections and Community Supervision finding petitioner guilty of violating certain prison disciplinary rules.
Petitioner was charged in a misbehavior report with unauthorized exchange and possession of gang-related material after a correction officer observed petitioner pass something to a fellow inmate which, following a frisk of both inmates, proved to be informational materials regarding membership in a specified gang. At the conclusion of a tier III disciplinary hearing, petitioner was found guilty of both charges and, other than a modification of the penalty imposed, that determination was affirmed upon administrative appeal. This CPLR article 78 proceeding ensued.
We confirm. Contrary to petitioner's contention, the misbehavior report, gang-related material and testimony at the hearing provide substantial evidence to support the determination of guilt (see Matter of Canty v. Prack, 122 A.D.3d 1054, 1054, 994 N.Y.S.2d 731 [2014] ; Matter of Kimbrough v. Fischer, 96 A.D.3d 1256, 1257, 947 N.Y.S.2d 208 [2012] ; Matter of James v. Poole, 52 A.D.3d 1083, 1084, 858 N.Y.S.2d 920 [2008], lv. denied 11 N.Y.3d 710, 868 N.Y.S.2d 602, 897 N.E.2d 1086 [2008] ). Although petitioner and the other inmate involved denied that petitioner passed anything when they shook hands, the correction officer who authored the misbehavior report testified that he saw the other inmate place something in his right front pocket after the handshake, which is where the gang-related material was found during the frisk. In any event, any conflicts or inconsistencies in the testimony presented a credibility issue for the Hearing Officer to resolve (see Matter of Canty v. Prack, 122 A.D.3d at 1055, 994 N.Y.S.2d 731 ; Matter of Gioe v. Selsky, 269 A.D.2d 644, 645, 705 N.Y.S.2d 81 [2000] ). We have reviewed petitioner's remaining contentions and find them to be without merit.
ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed.
McCARTHY, J.P., EGAN JR., ROSE, DEVINE and AARONS, JJ., concur.