Opinion
07-28-2016
In the Matter of Yven CHEN, Petitioner, v. Donald VENETTOZZI, as Acting Director of Special Housing and Inmate Disciplinary Programs, Respondent.
Yven Chen, Napanoch, petitioner pro se. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Marcus J. Mastracco of counsel), for respondent.
Yven Chen, Napanoch, petitioner pro se.
Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Marcus J. Mastracco of counsel), for respondent.
Before: McCARTHY, J.P., EGAN JR., ROSE, DEVINE and AARONS, JJ.
Opinion 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 smuggling, possessing a tool without authorization and possessing an article in an area where its possession is prohibited. The charges stemmed from his failure to return a seam ripper that had been assigned to him earlier that day as part of his job in the facility laundry room. After the seam ripper was discovered to be missing, petitioner was located in the prison yard with it in his pocket. Following a tier III disciplinary hearing, petitioner was found not guilty of smuggling, but guilty of the remaining charges. The determination was affirmed on administrative appeal and this CPLR article 78 proceeding ensued.
We confirm. The misbehavior report and petitioner's hearing testimony provide substantial evidence supporting the determination of guilt (see Matter of Goode v. Chappius, 118 A.D.3d 1225, 1226, 988 N.Y.S.2d 294 [2014] ; Matter of Newman v. Department of Corr. Servs., 110 A.D.3d 1309, 1309–1310, 973 N.Y.S.2d 448 [2013] ). Petitioner admitted at the hearing that he had taken the seam ripper out of the laundry room and into the yard without authorization. Although he contends that he forgot that the tool was in his pocket and that he did not intend to take it out of the laundry room, the rules against possessing a tool without authorization and possessing it in a prohibited area apply regardless of an inmate's intent (see 7 NYCRR 270.2 [B] [14] [viii], [xii]; Matter of Bottom v. Annucci, 26 N.Y.3d 983, 986, 19 N.Y.S.3d 209, 41 N.E.3d 66 [2015] ). Finally, upon reviewing the record, we find no support for petitioner's contention that the Hearing Officer was biased or that he was otherwise denied a fair hearing (see Matter of Jackson v. Prack, 137 A.D.3d 1133, 1135, 27 N.Y.S.3d 690 [2016] ; Matter of Quezada v. Fischer, 113 A.D.3d 1004, 1004, 979 N.Y.S.2d 426 [2014] ). Petitioner's remaining claims have been considered and found to be without merit.
ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed.