Opinion
526037
08-02-2018
In the Matter of Jashaad GULIFIELD, Petitioner, v. Anthony J. ANNUCCI, as Acting Commissioner of Corrections and Community Supervision, et al., Respondents.
Jashaad Gulifield, Garnerville, petitioner pro se. Barbara D. Underwood, Attorney General, Albany (Frank Brady of counsel), for respondents.
Jashaad Gulifield, Garnerville, petitioner pro se.
Barbara D. Underwood, Attorney General, Albany (Frank Brady of counsel), for respondents.
Before: Garry, P.J., Egan Jr., Clark, Mulvey and Pritzker, JJ.
MEMORANDUM AND JUDGMENT
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 Commissioner of Corrections and Community Supervision finding petitioner guilty of violating certain prison disciplinary rules.
In March 2016, while incarcerated at a state correctional facility, an inmate reported that petitioner had, among other things, either paid, or aggressively demanded, him to engage in sex acts with petitioner on multiple occasions during January and February 2016. A subsequent investigation by both the facility and a senior investigator with the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision's Office of Special Investigations confirmed the inmate's allegations and further revealed that petitioner had participated in third-party telephone calls to solicit money. As a result, petitioner was charged in a misbehavior report with committing a sex offense, stalking, soliciting and making third-party telephone calls. Following a tier III disciplinary hearing, petitioner was found guilty as charged and a penalty was imposed. That determination was affirmed upon petitioner's administrative appeal with a modified penalty, and this CPLR article 78 proceeding ensued.
We confirm. The misbehavior report, related confidential documentation, recording of the telephone conversations and testimony at the hearing provide substantial evidence to support the determination of guilt (see Matter of Pagan v. Venettozzi, 151 A.D.3d 1508, 1508, 57 N.Y.S.3d 736 [2017], lv denied 30 N.Y.3d 903, 2017 WL 4697525 [2017] ; Matter of Mohamed v. Prack, 137 A.D.3d 1402, 1403, 25 N.Y.S.3d 918 [2016] ; Matter of Davis v. Annucci, 123 A.D.3d 1279, 1279, 996 N.Y.S.2d 404 [2014] ). Petitioner's denial of the offenses charged and exculpatory explanation for the transfer of $100 to the inmate's facility account created credibility issues for the Hearing Officer to resolve (see Matter of Pagan v. Venettozzi, 151 A.D.3d at 1509, 57 N.Y.S.3d 736 ; Matter of Hood v. Goord, 36 A.D.3d 1064, 1065, 826 N.Y.S.2d 517 [2007] ).
Turning to petitioner's procedural contentions, he argues that the misbehavior report omits the specific dates and times of the sex offenses, thereby depriving him of adequate notice of the charges. We find, however, that the detailed misbehavior report, which summarized the results of the investigation and set forth the specific rule violations, was sufficiently detailed to afford petitioner notice of the charges so as to enable him to prepare a 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] ; Matter of Hyatt v. Annucci, 137 A.D.3d 1382, 1382, 27 N.Y.S.3d 282 [2016], lv denied 27 N.Y.3d 910, 2016 WL 3524410 [2016] ; Matter of Chandler v. Annucci, 135 A.D.3d 1258, 1259, 23 N.Y.S.3d 494 [2016] ). The record further establishes that any defects in his prehearing employee assistance were remedied by the Hearing Officer, and petitioner has not demonstrated that he was prejudiced by said defects (see Matter of Austin v. Annucci, 145 A.D.3d 1263, 1264, 42 N.Y.S.3d 681 [2016] ; Matter of Caraway v. Annucci, 144 A.D.3d 1296, 1298, 45 N.Y.S.3d 221 [2016], lv denied 29 N.Y.3d 903, 2017 WL 1223645 [2017] ). Nor was petitioner's request for testimony from the dorm officer improperly denied, given that the requested testimony would have been cumulative and redundant (see Matter of Wood v. Annucci, 158 A.D.3d 856, 858, 70 N.Y.S.3d 599 [2018] ; Matter of White v. Fischer, 121 A.D.3d 1478, 1479, 994 N.Y.S.2d 467 [2014] ). Petitioner's remaining contentions have either not been preserved for our review or are lacking in merit.
ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed.
Garry, P.J., Egan Jr., Clark, Mulvey and Pritzker, JJ., concur.