Opinion
2013-06-20
In the Matter of Roger REDDISH, Petitioner, v. Brian FISCHER, as Commissioner of Corrections and Community Supervision, Respondent.
Roger Reddish, Malone, petitioner pro se. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Marcus J. Mastracco of counsel), for respondent.
Roger Reddish, Malone, petitioner pro se. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Marcus J. Mastracco of counsel), for respondent.
Before: LAHTINEN, J.P., SPAIN, McCARTHY and GARRY, 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 respondent which found petitioner guilty of violating certain prison disciplinary rules.
At the correctional facility where petitioner was incarcerated, mail room personnel discovered a manila envelope containing 24 grievances signed by different inmates from one particular housing location. Through an investigation, it was determined that petitioner, who was chair of the Inmate Liaison Committee, solicited the inmates to file the grievances and authored them himself. He was charged in a misbehavior report with possessing grievance documentation pertaining to other inmates ( see7 NYCRR 270.2 [B][14][xvii] ), distributing departmental documentation without authorization ( see7 NYCRR 270.2[B][17][iii] ) and engaging in a demonstration ( see7 NYCRR 270.2[B] [5] [iv] ). At the conclusionof a tier III disciplinary hearing, petitioner was found guilty of the former two charges, but not of the latter. This determination was affirmed on administrative appeal, resulting in this CPLR article 78 proceeding.
We confirm. The misbehavior report and related documentation, together with petitioner's admission to writing the grievances and addressing the envelope in which they were placed, provide substantial evidence supporting the determination of guilt ( see Matter of Peoples v. Bezio, 94 A.D.3d 1299, 1300, 942 N.Y.S.2d 676 [2012];Matter of Fuentes v. Fischer, 89 A.D.3d 1339, 1339, 934 N.Y.S.2d 520 [2011] ). Petitioner's claim that he was merely assisting other inmates and did not intend to deceive anyone presented a credibility issue for the Hearing Officer to resolve ( see Matter of McMoore v. Bezio, 63 A.D.3d 1463, 1464, 884 N.Y.S.2d 267 [2009],lv. denied13 N.Y.3d 707, 2009 WL 3296643 [2009];Matter of Reynoso v. Fischer, 55 A.D.3d 1201, 865 N.Y.S.2d 586 [2008],appeal dismissed11 N.Y.3d 916, 873 N.Y.S.2d 530, 901 N.E.2d 1285 [2009] ). His remaining contentions are lacking in merit. Therefore, we find no reason to disturb the determination of guilt.
ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed.