Opinion
2014-09-11
In the Matter of Michael L. WILSON, Petitioner, v. Brian FISCHER, as Commissioner of Corrections and Community Supervision, Respondent.
Michael L. Wilson, Ossining, petitioner pro se. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Peter H. Schiff of counsel), for respondent.
Michael L. Wilson, Ossining, 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 respondent which found petitioner guilty of violating a prison disciplinary rule.
Following a tier III disciplinary hearing, petitioner was found guilty of threatening another inmate. The determination was affirmed upon administrative appeal with a modified penalty, and this CPLR article 78 proceeding ensued.
We confirm. Initially, we reject petitioner's contention that the misbehavior report failed to provide him with sufficient notice of the charge against him due to a lack of specific times, dates and places of the alleged conduct. Inasmuch as the charge resulted from an investigation involving several contacts between petitioner and the victim, we conclude that the misbehavior report contained sufficient information to adequately apprise petitioner of the charge against him in order to enable him to prepare a defense ( see Matter of Williams v. Fischer, 114 A.D.3d 977, 977, 979 N.Y.S.2d 858 [2014], lv. denied23 N.Y.3d 903, 2014 WL 1887356 [2014]; Matter of Eugenio v. Fischer, 112 A.D.3d 1017, 1017, 976 N.Y.S.2d 316 [2013], lv. denied22 N.Y.3d 863, 2014 WL 1243300 [2014] ). We also reject petitioner's contention that he impermissibly was denied the right to call a certain witness, as the requested witness was not present during the incidents that gave rise to the charge and, therefore, could not provide relevant testimony ( see Matter of Boyd v. Fischer, 108 A.D.3d 995, 996, 969 N.Y.S.2d 251 [2013]; Matter of Blackwell v. Fischer, 106 A.D.3d 1346, 1346, 965 N.Y.S.2d 256 [2013] ).
Turning to the merits, the misbehavior report, the hearing testimony of the victim and both the in camera and hearing testimony of the correction officer who investigated the incident and authored the misbehavior report provide substantial evidence supporting the determination of guilt ( see Matter of Hardy v. Smith, 87 A.D.3d 779, 780, 927 N.Y.S.2d 805 [2011]; Matter of France v. Bezio, 78 A.D.3d 1357, 1357, 911 N.Y.S.2d 229 [2010] ). Petitioner's denial of the charge presented a credibility issue for the Hearing Officer to resolve ( see Matter of Ford v. Prack, 101 A.D.3d 1276, 1277, 955 N.Y.S.2d 459 [2012] ). Petitioner's remaining claims have been considered and found to be without merit.
ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed. PETERS, P.J., STEIN, ROSE, EGAN JR. and LYNCH, JJ., concur.