Opinion
06-29-2017
In the Matter of Jose PAGAN, Petitioner, v. Donald VENETTOZZI, as Acting Director of Special Housing and Inmate Disciplinary Programs, Respondent.
Jose Pagan, Dannemora, petitioner pro se. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Peter H. Schiff of counsel), for respondent.
Jose Pagan, Dannemora, petitioner pro se.
Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Peter H. Schiff of counsel), for respondent.
Before: PETERS, P.J., GARRY, EGAN JR., DEVINE and AARONS, JJ.
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.
An internal prison investigation revealed that petitioner had entered another inmate's living space and demanded that the inmate perform a sexual act upon him. When the inmate refused to do so, petitioner grabbed and pushed the inmate and threatened that harm would be done to him if the inmate told anyone about the incident, whereupon the inmate began to perform, but did not complete, the sexual act that petitioner had demanded. Thereafter, petitioner was charged in a misbehavior report with committing a sex offense and making threats. Following a tier III disciplinary hearing, petitioner was found guilty of the charges. Upon administrative review, that determination was upheld. This CPLR article 78 proceeding ensued.
We confirm. The misbehavior report, the victim's photo array identification of petitioner and related confidential documentary evidence provide substantial evidence to support the determination of guilt (see Matter of Davis v. Annucci, 123 A.D.3d 1279, 1279, 996 N.Y.S.2d 404 [2014] ; Matter of Hood v. Goord, 36 A.D.3d 1064, 1065, 826 N.Y.S.2d 517 [2007] ; Matter of Rolan v. Goord, 288 A.D.2d 778, 779, 733 N.Y.S.2d 303 [2001] ). Contrary to petitioner's claim, it was not necessary for the author of the report to actually witness the incident, as it was sufficient that she acquired knowledge through her investigation and conversations with the inmate who was involved in the incident (see 7 NYCRR 251–3.1 [b]; Matter of Cornelius v. Fischer, 98 A.D.3d 779, 780, 949 N.Y.S.2d 804 [2012] ). Petitioner's denial of the charges and claim that he did not know the inmate involved in the incident presented a credibility determination for the Hearing Officer to resolve (see Matter of
Ramirez v. Annucci, 138 A.D.3d 1262, 1263, 31 N.Y.S.3d 226 [2016] ; Matter of Beasley v. Venettozzi, 122 A.D.3d 1038, 1038, 995 N.Y.S.2d 843 [2014] ).
Turning to petitioner's procedural contentions, we find that the misbehavior report, which alleged, among other things, the particulars of the incident and the time, location and date on which it occurred, was sufficiently specific to apprise petitioner of the charges and to allow him to prepare a meaningful defense (see 7 NYCRR 251–3.1 [c]; Matter of Harris v. Annucci, 148 A.D.3d 1385, 1385, 48 N.Y.S.3d 636 [2017] ). We also reject petitioner's claim of inadequate employee assistance premised upon the assistant's failure to provide him with certain documents or to interview witnesses. Petitioner did not ask his employee assistant to interview any witnesses prior to the hearing, and petitioner was informed at the hearing that the unusual incident report did not exist and that he did not have a right to obtain copies of the victim's medical report and disciplinary record (see Matter of Wilson v. Annucci, 129 A.D.3d 1422, 1422, 10 N.Y.S.3d 908 [2015] ; Matter of Martin v. Fischer, 109 A.D.3d 1026, 1027, 971 N.Y.S.2d 357 [2013] ). Nor was petitioner deprived of the right to call any witnesses at the hearing, as the record reflects that the requested witnesses, including the victimized inmate, never agreed to testify, and the Hearing Officer reviewed the witnesses' reasons for refusing to testify with petitioner at the hearing (see Matter of Allah v. Venettozzi, 147 A.D.3d 1133, 1133, 45 N.Y.S.3d 717 [2017] ; Matter of Clark v. Fischer, 120 A.D.3d 1468, 1469, 991 N.Y.S.2d 911 [2014], lv. denied 24 N.Y.3d 912, 2015 WL 94651 [2015] ). Petitioner's remaining contentions are either unpreserved for our review or are lacking in merit.
ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed.