Opinion
525188
05-17-2018
In the Matter of Kevin R. MAYS, Petitioner, v. Peter D. EARLY, as Deputy Superintendent of Security for Otisville Correctional Facility, Respondent.
Kevin R. Mays, Otisville, petitioner pro se. Barbara D. Underwood, Acting Attorney General, Albany (Marcus J. Mastracco of counsel), for respondent.
Kevin R. Mays, Otisville, petitioner pro se.
Barbara D. Underwood, Acting Attorney General, Albany (Marcus J. Mastracco of counsel), for respondent.
Before: Devine, J.P., Mulvey, Aarons, Rumsey and Pritzker, JJ.
MEMORANDUM AND JUDGMENTProceeding 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 Superintendent of Otisville Correctional Facility finding petitioner guilty of violating certain prison disciplinary rules.Petitioner was charged in a misbehavior report with harassment, creating a disturbance and interfering with an employee stemming from his belligerent and insolent behavior toward a correction officer who directed petitioner not to open a window in the housing unit. Following a tier II disciplinary hearing, petitioner was found guilty of all charges and that determination was affirmed upon administrative appeal. This CPLR article 78 proceeding ensued.
We confirm. The misbehavior report and testimony from its author, as well as petitioner's testimony, provide substantial evidence to support the determination of guilt (see Matter of Lopez v. Department of Corr. & Community Supervision, 142 A.D.3d 1238, 1239, 38 N.Y.S.3d 624 [2016] ; Matter of Kairis v. Smith , 141 A.D.3d 1054, 1054, 35 N.Y.S.3d 664 [2016] ). Petitioner's denial of the alleged conduct and claims that the misbehavior report was fabricated as a result of a grievance that he had filed against the correction officer presented credibility issues for the Hearing Officer to resolve (see Matter of Harriott v. Koenigsmann, 149 A.D.3d 1440, 1441, 53 N.Y.S.3d 401 [2017] ; Matter of Osborne v. Venettozzi , 141 A.D.3d 990, 991, 34 N.Y.S.3d 916 [2016] ).
Contrary to petitioner's contention, a review of the record establishes that the determination of guilt flowed from the evidence presented and not from any alleged bias on the part of the Hearing Officer (see Matter of Lopez v. Department of Corr. & Community Supervision, 142 A.D.3d at 1240, 38 N.Y.S.3d 624 ; Matter of Osborne v. Venettozzi, 141 A.D.3d at 991, 34 N.Y.S.3d 916). Further, we find no error in the Hearing Officer precluding petitioner from asking questions during the hearing that were irrelevant to the conduct charged (see Matter of David v. Goord , 284 A.D.2d 752, 752, 726 N.Y.S.2d 590 [2001] ). Petitioner's remaining contentions, to the extent that they are preserved, have been reviewed and found to be without merit.
ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed,
Devine, J.P., Mulvey, Aarons, Rumsey and Pritzker, JJ., concur.