Opinion
249 TP 16-01478.
03-24-2017
In the Matter of Michael LAFFERTY, Petitioner, v. Anthony ANNUCCI, Acting Commissioner, New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, Respondent.
Wyoming County–Attica Legal Aid Bureau, Warsaw (Leah R. Nowotarski of Counsel), for Petitioner. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Frank Brady of Counsel), for Respondent.
Wyoming County–Attica Legal Aid Bureau, Warsaw (Leah R. Nowotarski of Counsel), for Petitioner.
Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Frank Brady of Counsel), for Respondent.
PRESENT: SMITH, J.P., CARNI, NEMOYER, CURRAN, AND TROUTMAN, JJ.
MEMORANDUM:
Petitioner commenced this CPLR article 78 proceeding seeking to annul the determination of the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) revoking his release to parole supervision. We reject petitioner's contention that Supreme Court improperly transferred this matter to this Court. Preliminarily, we note that petitioner confuses the regulations applicable to an administrative appeal to the Board of Parole pursuant to 9 NYCRR part 8006 with the rules that apply to a CPLR article 78 proceeding. To the extent that petitioner challenges the sufficiency of the evidence presented during the contested final parole revocation hearing regarding charge 5, we agree with respondent that the court properly transferred the matter to this Court.
Turning to petitioner's contention regarding the sufficiency of the evidence presented in support of charge 5, which alleges that petitioner intentionally and knowingly possessed a sexual performance by a child less than 16 years of age, we conclude that petitioner failed to preserve his contention that there is insufficient evidence that the children depicted in the images of child pornography found on petitioner's computer were under the age of 16. Indeed, defense counsel conceded that the images found on petitioner's computer and admitted in evidence "certainly would constitute child pornography. We're not going to quibble over that. The images are disgusting. There is no question about that" (see Matter of Washington v. Annucci, 144 A.D.3d 1541, 1542, 41 N.Y.S.3d 808 ; Matter of Kirk v. Hammock, 119 A.D.2d 851, 853–854, 500 N.Y.S.2d 424 ; see also Matter of McCollum v. Fischer, 61 A.D.3d 1194, 1194, 876 N.Y.S.2d 766, lv. denied 13 N.Y.3d 703, 2009 WL 2779303 ).
In any event, "[i]t is well settled that a determination to revoke parole will be confirmed if the procedural requirements were followed and there is evidence [that], if credited, would support such determination" (Matter of Rosa v. Fischer, 108 A.D.3d 1227, 1228, 969 N.Y.S.2d 706, lv. denied 22 N.Y.3d 855, 2013 WL 6068001 [internal quotation marks omitted] ). We conclude that the ALJ's determination that petitioner intentionally and knowingly possessed a sexual performance by a child less than 16 years of age is supported by substantial evidence, namely, 12 images of child pornography found on petitioner's computer, as well as the testimony of law enforcement officers who found 60 images of child pornography on petitioner's computer.
We reject petitioner's further contention that the 48–month time assessment imposed against him is excessive. "The Executive Law does not place an outer limit on the length of that assessment, and the [ALJ's] determination may not be modified upon judicial review in the absence of impropriety" (Rosa, 108 A.D.3d at 1228, 969 N.Y.S.2d 706 [internal quotation marks omitted]; see Matter of Bell v. Lemons, 78 A.D.3d 1393, 1393–1394, 910 N.Y.S.2d 701 ). Here, the ALJ considered the appropriate factors and, "given petitioner's violent criminal record and his ... disregard for the conditions of his parole, we perceive nothing improper in the assessment imposed" (Rosa, 108 A.D.3d at 1228, 969 N.Y.S.2d 706 [internal quotation marks omitted]; see Bell, 78 A.D.3d at 1394, 910 N.Y.S.2d 701 ).
Petitioner's remaining contentions are without merit.
It is hereby ORDERED that the determination is unanimously confirmed without costs and the petition is dismissed.