Opinion
2013-02-1
In the Matter of Trevor SPEARS, Petitioner, v. Brian FISCHER, Commissioner, New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, Respondent.
Wyoming County–Attica Legal Aid Bureau, Warsaw (Leah R. Nowotarski of Counsel), for Petitioner. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (William E. Storrs of Counsel), for Respondent.
Wyoming County–Attica Legal Aid Bureau, Warsaw (Leah R. Nowotarski of Counsel), for Petitioner. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (William E. Storrs of Counsel), for Respondent.
PRESENT: CENTRA, J.P., FAHEY, SCONIERS, VALENTINO, AND MARTOCHE, JJ.
MEMORANDUM:
Petitioner commenced this CPLR article 78 proceeding seeking to annul the determination, following a Tier III hearing, that he violated inmate rules 106.10 (7 NYCRR 270.2[B][7][i] [refusal to obey direct order] ) and 113.10 (7 NYCRR 270.2[B][14][i] [weapon possession] ). We conclude that the determination is supported by substantial evidence. “The misbehavior report, together with the testimony of the correction officer who wrote it and the photograph[ ] of the [tweezers inserted into a pen and secured by a shoelace], constitutes substantial evidence supporting the determination that petitioner violated [those] inmate rule[s]” (Matter of Oliver v. Fischer, 82 A.D.3d 1648, 1648, 919 N.Y.S.2d 432). Contrary to petitioner's further contention, the inability of his inmate assistant to obtain a videotape of the incident did not constitute a denial of his right to present documentary evidence “inasmuch as petitioner was advised that no such videotape existed” (Matter of Carini v. Goord, 270 A.D.2d 663, 664, 704 N.Y.S.2d 741). Petitioner contends for the first time on appeal that the Hearing Officer confused him about his right to testify and present evidence. Thus, “[p]etitioner failed to exhaust his administrative remedies with respect to that contention, and this Court has no discretionary authority to reach that contention” (Matter of Alvarez v. Fischer, 94 A.D.3d 1404, 1406, 942 N.Y.S.2d 711).
Finally, the “penalty is not so disproportionate to the offense as to be shocking to one's sense of fairness” (Matter of Ciotoli v. Goord, 256 A.D.2d 1192, 1193, 683 N.Y.S.2d 683). “It is well established that a decision to withhold good time allowance which is made in accordance with the law is not subject to judicial review” (Matter of Burke v. Goord, 273 A.D.2d 575, 575, 710 N.Y.S.2d 136,appeal dismissed and lv. denied95 N.Y.2d 898, 716 N.Y.S.2d 637, 739 N.E.2d 1141). Nevertheless, as respondent correctly concedes, the loss of 12 months' good time imposed is contrary to a prior order of Supreme Court directing that, upon a new hearing, the Hearing Officer could not impose any greater penalty than that imposed after the original hearing, i.e., six months' loss of good time. As a result, the recommended loss of good time must be vacated. We therefore modify the determination accordingly, and we remit the matter to respondent for a determination of the loss of good time that is in compliance with Supreme Court's prior order.
It is hereby ORDERED that the determination so appealed from is unanimously modified on the law and the petition is granted in part by vacating the recommended loss of good time and as modified the determination is confirmed without costs and the matter is remitted to respondent for further proceedings.