Opinion
2011-11-17
In the Matter of Josue ENCARNACION, Petitioner, v. Joseph BELLNIER, as Superintendent of Marcy Correctional Facility, Respondent.
Josue Encarnacion, Marcy, petitioner pro se. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Peter H. Schiff of counsel), for respondent.
Josue Encarnacion, Marcy, petitioner pro se. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Peter H. Schiff of counsel), for respondent.
Before: MERCURE, J.P., SPAIN, MALONE, JR., McCARTHY and EGAN, JR., JJ.
Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 (transferred to this Court by order of the Supreme Court, entered in Albany County) to review two determinations of respondent which found petitioner guilty of violating certain prison disciplinary rules.
Petitioner was charged in a misbehavior report with fighting, violent conduct and refusing a direct order after a correction officer witnessed petitioner engaging in a physical altercation with three other inmates, all of whom ignored direct orders to stop fighting. Following a tier II disciplinary proceeding, petitioner was found guilty of the charges, and the determination was affirmed upon administrative appeal. Subsequently, petitioner was charged in a second misbehavior report with making threats after he allegedly walked by a correction officer and uttered, “I'll get you.” Petitioner again was found guilty after a tier II disciplinary hearing and, following an unsuccessful administrative appeal, petitioner commenced this CPLR article 78 proceeding to challenge the two determinations.
We confirm. Preliminarily, petitioner's assertions that the underlying misbehavior reports were insufficient to enable him to prepare a defense and that he was denied the opportunity to present witnesses or documentary evidence on his behalf are unpreserved for our review in light of his failure to raise such issues at the respective hearings ( see Matter of Vidal–Ortiz v. Fischer, 84 A.D.3d 1627, 1628, 923 N.Y.S.2d 312 [2011]; Matter of Evans v. Bezio, 84 A.D.3d 1622, 1623, 922 N.Y.S.2d 828 [2011] ).
As to the first incident, the detailed misbehavior report, standing alone, provides substantial evidence to support the determination of guilt ( see Matter of Collins v. Bellnier, 79 A.D.3d 1520, 1521, 913 N.Y.S.2d 405 [2010]; Matter of Lamage v. Fischer, 58 A.D.3d 1045, 1045, 870 N.Y.S.2d 809 [2009] ). To the extent that petitioner contends that he was jumped by another inmate and acted in self-defense, this presented a credibility issue for the Hearing Officer to resolve ( see Matter of Barclay v. Knowles, 79 A.D.3d 1550, 1550, 914 N.Y.S.2d 347 [2010]; Matter of James v. Fischer, 67 A.D.3d 1163, 1163, 887 N.Y.S.2d 878 [2009] ). With regard to the second incident, the misbehavior report and testimony of the correction officer who witnessed the incident constitute substantial evidence of petitioner's guilt ( see Matter of Barnes v. Prack, 87 A.D.3d 1216, 1216, 930 N.Y.S.2d 291 [2011]; Matter of Green v. Fischer, 77 A.D.3d 1011, 1012, 908 N.Y.S.2d 757 [2010], lv. denied 16 N.Y.3d 710, 2011 WL 1584761 [2011] ), and petitioner's assertion that the report was written in retaliation for grievances he had filed presented a credibility question for the Hearing Officer's resolution ( see Matter of Phipps v. Fischer, 82 A.D.3d 1396, 1397, 918 N.Y.S.2d 385 [2011]; Matter of Lovett v. Smith, 80 A.D.3d 1039, 1040, 915 N.Y.S.2d 706 [2011] ).
Finally, our review of the record reveals that the determinations of guilt resulted from the evidence adduced at the hearings rather than from any alleged hearing officer bias ( see Matter of Goodman v. Smith, 85 A.D.3d 1474, 1475, 925 N.Y.S.2d 904 [2011]; Matter of Ellison v. Fischer, 79 A.D.3d 1538, 1539, 917 N.Y.S.2d 325 [2010] ). Petitioner's remaining contentions, to the extent not specifically addressed, are either unpreserved for our review or have been examined and found to be lacking in merit.
ADJUDGED that the determinations are confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed.