Opinion
10-06-2016
In the Matter of Kenny CAMPOS, Petitioner, v. Albert PRACK, as Director of Special Housing and Inmate Disciplinary Programs, Respondent.
Kenny Campos, Pine City, petitioner pro se. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Kathy M. Arnold of counsel), for respondent.
Kenny Campos, Pine City, petitioner pro se.
Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Kathy M. Arnold of counsel), for respondent.
Before: PETERS, P.J., EGAN JR., LYNCH, ROSE and AARONS, JJ.
PETERS, P.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 the Commissioner of Corrections and Community Supervision finding petitioner guilty of violating certain prison disciplinary rules.
Petitioner was charged in a misbehavior report with violent conduct, creating a disturbance, assaulting staff, engaging in an unhygienic act and interfering with an employee. According to the misbehavior report, petitioner, while being escorted by two correction officers, suddenly turned and spit in a correction officer's face and punched him in the chest. Petitioner then disregarded orders to stop his aggressive behavior, resulting in the correction officers' use of force to control petitioner and place him in mechanical restraints. Following a disciplinary hearing, petitioner was found guilty of all charges, and that determination was affirmed upon administrative appeal with a modified penalty. This CPLR article 78 proceeding ensued.
We confirm. The misbehavior report, documentary evidence and testimony from numerous witnesses, including those involved in the incident, provide substantial evidence to support the determination of guilt (see Matter of Blocker v. Fischer, 107 A.D.3d 1285, 1286, 967 N.Y.S.2d 525 [2013] ; Matter of Martin v. Fischer, 98 A.D.3d 774, 774, 949 N.Y.S.2d 798 [2012] ). Any alleged inconsistencies in the evidence and testimony presented a credibility issue for the Hearing Officer to resolve (see Matter of Lane v. Annucci, 127 A.D.3d 1492, 1493, 5 N.Y.S.3d 920 [2015] ; Matter of Douglas v. Fischer, 126 A.D.3d 1244, 1245, 3 N.Y.S.3d 654 [2015], lv. denied 26 N.Y.2d 904, 2015 WL 5254842 [2015] ), and, contrary to petitioner's contention, the fact that the Hearing Officer resolved credibility issues against him is not indicative of bias (see Matter of Canzater–Smith v. Selsky, 28 A.D.3d 899, 900, 813 N.Y.S.2d 254 [2006] ).
Turning to petitioner's procedural claims, we are unpersuaded by his contention that the Hearing Officer was required to personally interview the four inmate witnesses who refused to testify. The record establishes that, in addition to the fact that none of those witnesses previously agreed to testify, three of the witnesses executed a witness refusal form indicating their reasons for not testifying and, particularly with regard to the inmate who did not execute a refusal form, the Hearing Officer made sufficient inquiry, on the record, of the correction officers who spoke with those witnesses regarding the refusal to testify (see Matter of Vansteenburg v State of N.Y. Dept. of Corrs. & Community Supervision, 128 A.D.3d 1295, 1296, 10 N.Y.S.3d 659 [2015] ). We have reviewed petitioner's remaining contentions, including his claims that he was improperly denied evidence and that the Hearing Officer was biased, and, to the extent that they are properly before us, find them to be without merit.
ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed.
EGAN JR., LYNCH, ROSE and AARONS, JJ., concur.