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In the Matter of Vasquez v. Dennison

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Third Department
Apr 13, 2006
28 A.D.3d 908 (N.Y. App. Div. 2006)

Opinion

98950.

April 13, 2006.

Appeal from a judgment of the Supreme Court (Teresi, J.), entered August 9, 2005 in Albany County, which dismissed petitioner's application, in a proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78, to review a determination of the Board of Parole denying petitioner's request for parole release.

Valentin Vasquez, Warwick, appellant pro se.

Eliot Spitzer, Attorney General, Albany (Frank Brady of counsel), for respondent.

Before: Peters, J.P., Mugglin, Rose, Lahtinen and Kane, JJ., concur.


As a result of petitioner's participation in the shooting of his cousin and her husband, petitioner was convicted in April 1985 of two counts of murder in the second degree and one count each of attempted murder in the second degree, assault in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. He was sentenced, respectively, to concurrent prison terms of 20 years to life (two terms), 6 to 18 years, 5 to 15 years and 2 to 6 years. In June 2004, petitioner made his initial appearance before the Board of Parole and his request for parole release was denied. After an unsuccessful administrative appeal, petitioner commenced this CPLR article 78 proceeding. Supreme Court dismissed the petition and this appeal ensued.

We are unpersuaded by petitioner's contention that the Board based its determination solely on the instant offense to the exclusion of other relevant statutory factors. A review of the parole hearing transcript reveals that the Board considered not only the instant offense, but his participation in various institutional programs, his disciplinary record, remorse for the crime and potential plans upon release. Although the Board emphasized the serious nature of the offense, the Board is not required to give equal weight to or specifically discuss all factors it considered in denying a request for parole release ( see Matter of Wellman v. Dennison, 23 AD3d 974, 974; Matter of Gamez v. Dennison, 18 AD3d 1099, 1099). Inasmuch as the record and Board's determination reflect that the denial of petitioner's request for parole release was based upon consideration of relevant statutory factors, and there being no "`showing of irrationality bordering on impropriety'" ( Matter of Silmon v. Travis, 95 NY2d 470, 476, quoting Matter of Russo v. New York State Bd. of Parole, 50 NY2d 69, 77; see Executive Law § 259-i [c] [A]), the determination is beyond judicial review ( see Executive Law § 259-i) and will not be disturbed.

Ordered that the judgment is affirmed, without costs.


Summaries of

In the Matter of Vasquez v. Dennison

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Third Department
Apr 13, 2006
28 A.D.3d 908 (N.Y. App. Div. 2006)
Case details for

In the Matter of Vasquez v. Dennison

Case Details

Full title:In the Matter of VALENTIN VASQUEZ, Appellant, v. ROBERT DENNISON, as Chair…

Court:Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Third Department

Date published: Apr 13, 2006

Citations

28 A.D.3d 908 (N.Y. App. Div. 2006)
2006 N.Y. Slip Op. 2691
812 N.Y.S.2d 190

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