Opinion
2012-08-2
In the Matter of Roy GREEN, Petitioner, v. Brian FISCHER, as Commissioner of Corrections and Community Supervision, Respondent.
Roy Green, Napanoch, petitioner pro se. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Peter H. Schiff of counsel), for respondent.
Roy Green, Napanoch, petitioner pro se. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Peter H. Schiff 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 Superintendent of Eastern Correctional Facility which found petitioner guilty of violating a prison disciplinary rule.
Approximately three weeks after petitioner was moved into a new cell, a correction officer conducting a search discovered that there was graffiti defacing the inside of petitioner's locker. As a result, petitioner was charged in a misbehavior report with destroying or damaging state property and possession of gang materials. Following a tier II disciplinary hearing, petitioner was found guilty of the charge alleging that he destroyed or damaged state property. That determination was affirmed on administrative appeal, prompting the commencement of this CPLR article 78 proceeding.
The detailed misbehavior report, combined with the hearing testimony, provide substantial evidence supporting the determination of guilt ( see Matter of Hayes v. Fischer, 78 A.D.3d 1396, 1396–1397, 911 N.Y.S.2d 251 [2010];Matter of Douglas v. Fischer, 76 A.D.3d 1162, 907 N.Y.S.2d 717 [2010] ). Contrary to petitioner's argument, the absence of proof demonstrating that his cell was searched or inspected prior to his arrival does not necessarily negate the inference that he was responsible for the damage to his locker ( cf. Matter of Fong v. Goord, 36 A.D.3d 1099, 1100, 827 N.Y.S.2d 364 [2007];Matter of Lam Trang v. Goord, 283 A.D.2d 816, 817, 728 N.Y.S.2d 202 [2001] ). In any event, one of the correction officers specifically testified that the graffiti could not have been in the locker prior to the time that petitioner moved in. Accordingly, we find no basis to disturb the determination of guilt.
The remaining issues raised by petitioner, including his claim that the proceeding was improperly transferred to this Court, have been examined and found to be lacking in merit.
ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed.