Opinion
2012-05-17
In the Matter of David A. BURR, Petitioner, v. Brian FISCHER, as Commissioner of Corrections and Community Supervision, Respondent.
David A. Burr, Malone, petitioner pro se. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Marcus J. Mastracco of counsel), for respondent.
David A. Burr, Malone, petitioner pro se. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Marcus J. Mastracco of counsel), for respondent.
Before: PETERS, P.J., LAHTINEN, SPAIN, KAVANAGH and McCARTHY, JJ.
SPAIN, J.
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 certain prison disciplinary rules.
The misbehavior report and testimony at the disciplinary hearing provide substantial evidence to support the determination finding petitioner guilty of harassment, refusing a direct order and making threats ( see Matter of Harrington v. Prack, 91 A.D.3d 1244, 1245, 936 N.Y.S.2d 923 [2012]; Matter of Sweet v. Woods, 60 A.D.3d 1183, 873 N.Y.S.2d 921 [2009] ). Petitioner's contention that there is no evidence regarding any threats is belied by the detailed misbehavior report, which sets forth the language that petitioner directed toward the correction officer involved in the incident.
Turning to petitioner's procedural challenges, the record reflects that the hearing was timely commenced in view of petitioner's keeplock status at the time the misbehavior report was issued ( see 7 NYCRR 251–5.1[a]; Matter of Serrano v. Goord, 28 A.D.3d 838, 811 N.Y.S.2d 596 [2006] ) and, subsequently, a valid extension to complete the hearing was obtained ( see 7 NYCRR 251–5.1[b]; Matter of Thompson v. Votraw, 65 A.D.3d 1403, 1404, 885 N.Y.S.2d 431 [2009] ). Furthermore, there is no merit to petitioner's assertion that he was improperly denied the right to call certain witnesses, as the record establishes that their proffered testimony would be either redundant or irrelevant to the charges ( see Matter of Vega v. New York State Dept. of Correctional Servs., 92 A.D.3d 991, 937 N.Y.S.2d 705 [2012] ). Moreover, at the *921 conclusion of the hearing, petitioner explicitly waived his right to call any other witnesses.
Petitioner's remaining contentions, including that the Hearing Officer should have recused himself and his challenge to the punishment imposed, are either unpreserved for our review or without merit.
ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed.