Opinion
2011-09-22
In the Matter of Jessie J. BARNES, Petitioner,v.Albert PRACK, as Acting Director of Special Housing and Inmate Disciplinary Programs, Respondent.
Jessie J. Barnes, Malone, petitioner pro se.Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Frank Brady of counsel), for respondent.
Jessie J. Barnes, Malone, petitioner pro se.Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Frank Brady 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 Commissioner of Correctional Services which found petitioner guilty of violating certain prison disciplinary rules.
Petitioner, a prison inmate, was being transported on a bus that made a stop at the Willard Drug Treatment facility. While other inmates were being admitted into the facility, petitioner was instructed to sit on a bench in the reception area. Thereafter, petitioner began yelling obscenities and disturbing the reception process. When directed to stop, petitioner refused and directed further obscenities at the correction officers, at which time they escorted him to a holding room. While in the holding room, petitioner spit on an officer, damaged the door by repeatedly kicking it, exposed his penis and threatened to kill the officers. As a result, petitioner was issued a misbehavior report charging him with making threats, disturbing facility order, refusing a direct order, damaging state property, engaging in lewd conduct and committing an unhygienic act. Following a tier III disciplinary proceeding, petitioner was found guilty as charged. That determination was administratively affirmed, prompting the commencement of this CPLR article 78 proceeding.
We confirm. The detailed misbehavior report, testimony of the officers involved in the incident and supporting documentation provide substantial evidence to support the determination of guilt ( see Matter of Cody v. Fischer, 84 A.D.3d 1651, 1651, 923 N.Y.S.2d 910 [2011]; Matter of Jackson v. Prack, 84 A.D.3d 1660, 1660, 923 N.Y.S.2d 368 [2011] ). Petitioner's assertion that he had been assaulted by correction officers without provocation, supported by the testimony of his inmate witnesses, raised a question of credibility to be resolved by the Hearing Officer ( see Matter of Williams v. Fischer, 84 A.D.3d 1661, 1662, 923 N.Y.S.2d 913 [2011]; Matter of Jackson v. Prack, 84 A.D.3d at 1660, 923 N.Y.S.2d 368).
Turning to petitioner's procedural contentions, he was not improperly denied the testimony of other inmate witnesses inasmuch as he was provided with refusal forms indicating that they had no knowledge of the alleged incident and he was offered an opportunity during the hearing to examine the forms and make objections, which he declined to do ( see Matter of Haynes v. Bezio, 73 A.D.3d 1295, 1296, 903 N.Y.S.2d 165 [2010]; Matter of Reynoso v. Fischer, 67 A.D.3d 1166, 887 N.Y.S.2d 879 [2009], appeal dismissed 14 N.Y.3d 767, 898 N.Y.S.2d 93, 925 N.E.2d 98 [2010] ). Likewise, petitioner was properly denied
access to the confidential testimony of mental health personnel ( see Matter of Scott v. Fischer, 82 A.D.3d 1431, 1432, 918 N.Y.S.2d 744 [2011]; Matter of Gibson v. Fischer, 56 A.D.3d 916, 917, 867 N.Y.S.2d 745 [2008] ). Lastly, we find that the determination of guilt was the result of evidence presented at the hearing and not, as petitioner contends, any alleged hearing officer bias ( see Matter of Montgomery v. Fischer, 84 A.D.3d 1666, 1667, 923 N.Y.S.2d 918 [2011] ).
Petitioner's remaining contentions have been considered and, to the extent preserved for our review, found to be without merit.
ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed.