Opinion
07-28-2016
In the Matter of Benjamin GARROW, Petitioner, v. Anthony J. ANNUCCI, as Acting Commissioner of Corrections and Community Supervision, et al., Respondents.
Benjamin Garrow, Attica, petitioner pro se. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Kathleen M. Treasure of counsel), for respondents.
Benjamin Garrow, Attica, petitioner pro se.
Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Kathleen M. Treasure of counsel), for respondents.
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 respondent finding petitioner guilty of violating certain prison disciplinary rules.
During an interview with a correction officer regarding a complaint that petitioner had filed, petitioner accused other correction officers of discussing his crimes of conviction with inmates and threatened to inflict serious harm upon a particular correction officer, prompting prison staff to place petitioner within mechanical restraints and secure him within a holding pen. Thereafter, petitioner was charged in a misbehavior report with making threats and conduct involving threats of violence. Following a tier III disciplinary hearing, petitioner was found guilty of the charges. On administrative appeal, that determination was upheld. This CPLR article 78 proceeding ensued.
We confirm. The detailed misbehavior report and the hearing testimony of the correction officer who was involved in the incident and authored that report constitute substantial evidence supporting the determination of guilt (see Matter of Toney v. Goord, 26 A.D.3d 613, 614, 809 N.Y.S.2d 627 [2016] ; Matter of Bookman v. Fischer, 99 A.D.3d 1127, 1128, 952 N.Y.S.2d 303 [2012] ). Petitioner's claim that the author of the misbehavior report testified falsely at the hearing and that the report was written in retaliation for a grievance that petitioner had previously filed presented credibility issues for the Hearing Officer to resolve (see Matter of Clark v. Fischer, 120 A.D.3d 1468, 1469, 991 N.Y.S.2d 911 [2014], lv. denied 24 N.Y.3d 912, 2015 WL 94651 [2015] ; Matter of Fowler v. Fischer, 106 A.D.3d 1344, 1345, 965 N.Y.S.2d 254 [2013], lv. denied 21 N.Y.3d 865, 974 N.Y.S.2d 37, 996 N.E.2d 918 [2013] ). In addition, we are unpersuaded by petitioner's contention that the hearing was not timely commenced. Where an inmate is confined in a special housing unit pending a disciplinary hearing, the hearing must commence within seven days (see 7 NYCRR 251–5.1 [a] ), although the day from which the reckoning is made is excluded from the calculation (see General Construction Law § 20 ). As the record establishes that the incident occurred, the misbehavior report was prepared and petitioner was confined on September 11, 2014, and the hearing commenced on September 18, 2014, the hearing was commenced within the required seven days (see 7 NYCRR 251–5.1 [a]; Matter of Rush v. Bezio, 79 A.D.3d 1548, 1549, 917 N.Y.S.2d 327 [2010] ; Matter of Infante v. Selsky, 299 A.D.2d 612, 613, 748 N.Y.S.2d 885 [2002] ). We have considered petitioner's remaining arguments and find that they are either unpreserved for our review or are lacking in merit.
ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed.
PETERS, P.J., McCARTHY, ROSE, DEVINE and MULVEY, JJ., concur.