Opinion
2013-09-19
In the Matter of Emar ABRAMS, Petitioner, v. Brian FISCHER, as Commissioner of Corrections and Community Supervision, Respondent.
Emar Abrams, Pine City, petitioner pro se. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Allyson B. Levine of counsel), for respondent.
Emar Abrams, Pine City, petitioner pro se. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Allyson B. Levine of counsel), for respondent.
Before: STEIN, J.P., McCARTHY, SPAIN and GARRY, JJ.
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.
After petitioner, a prison inmate, was observed by several correction officers speaking at a service of the Nation of Islam and encouraging attendees to organizewith other groups to take action against the facility and its staff, he was served with a misbehavior report charging him with rioting and demonstration. Following a tier III disciplinary hearing, he was found guilty of demonstration and that determination was affirmed upon administrative appeal. Petitioner then commenced this CPLR article 78 proceeding to challenge the determination.
We confirm. To the extent that petitioner challenges the evidence against him, the misbehavior report and the testimony of the three correction officers who heard petitioner's statements constitute substantial evidence to support the determination of guilt ( see Matter of Fowler v. Fischer, 106 A.D.3d 1344, 1345, 965 N.Y.S.2d 254 [2013],lv. denied––– N.Y.3d ––––, 2013 WL 4838763 [Sept. 12, 2013]; Matter of Williams v. Fischer, 102 A.D.3d 1044, 1044, 958 N.Y.S.2d 238 [2013] ). Petitioner's contention that the charges were fabricated in retaliation for grievances he had filed against the officers raised a credibility issue to be resolved by the Hearing Officer ( see Matter of Sanchez v. Fischer, 106 A.D.3d 1361, 1361, 965 N.Y.S.2d 397 [2013];Matter of Tuitt v. Martuscello, 106 A.D.3d 1355, 1356, 965 N.Y.S.2d 669 [2013],lv. denied––– N.Y.3d ––––, 2013 WL 4792405 [Sept. 10, 2013] ).
Petitioner's contentions that he received ineffective employee assistance, he was denied documentary evidence, the misbehavior report failed to sufficiently apprise him of the charges, and the hearing was untimely commenced and completed are unpreserved by his failure to adequately and timely raise these arguments during the hearing when they could have been addressed ( see Matter of Argentina v. Fischer, 98 A.D.3d 768, 768–769, 949 N.Y.S.2d 824 [2012];Matter of Morales v. Fischer, 89 A.D.3d 1346, 1346–1347, 934 N.Y.S.2d 526 [2011];Matter of Hernandez v. Bezio, 76 A.D.3d 1148, 1148–1149, 907 N.Y.S.2d 719 [2010] ). Finally, our review of the record reveals that the finding of guilt did not result from hearing officer bias but, rather, was based on the substantial evidence elicited during the hearing ( see Matter of Colon v. Fischer, 98 A.D.3d 1176, 1177, 950 N.Y.S.2d 821 [2012],lv. denied20 N.Y.3d 857, 2013 WL 452196 [2013];Matter of Rodriguez v. Fischer, 96 A.D.3d 1333, 1333, 946 N.Y.S.2d 908 [2012] ). Petitioner's remaining contentions have been examined and found to be without merit.
ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed.