Opinion
09-22-2016
In the Matter of Peter LOPEZ, Petitioner, v. DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND COMMUNITY SUPERVISION, Respondent.
Peter Lopez, Fallsburg, petitioner pro se. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Marcus J. Mastracco of counsel), for respondent.
Peter Lopez, Fallsburg, petitioner pro se.
Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Marcus J. Mastracco of counsel), for respondent.
Before: PETERS, P.J., McCARTHY, ROSE, CLARK and AARONS, JJ.
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, a legally blind inmate, was observed by a correction captain walking down the hallway, accompanied by his inmate mobility escort, with a visor on his head. The captain, who was new to the facility, called out and attempted to get petitioner's attention, but petitioner and his escort proceeded to walk down the hallway without responding. The captain followed petitioner and took him out of a line of inmates for questioning. Petitioner indicated that he had a permit for the visor, but became argumentative when the captain asked him to produce it, continually asking the captain why it was necessary. Ultimately, petitioner produced the permit, but, during the verbal exchange that ensued, he became loudly sarcastic, continued to interrupt despite the captain's orders to stop and exhibited disrespectful behavior towards the captain in the presence of the other inmates and staff. As a result, petitioner was charged in a misbehavior report with refusing a direct order, creating a disturbance, interfering with an employee and harassment. Following a tier III disciplinary hearing, he was found guilty of the charges. The determination was later upheld on administrative appeal and this CPLR article 78 proceeding ensued.
The detailed misbehavior report, together with the testimony of the captain who prepared it, provide substantial evidence supporting that part of the determination finding petitioner guilty of refusing a direct order, creating a disturbance and harassment (see Matter of Osborne v. Venettozzi, 141 A.D.3d 990, 991, 34 N.Y.S.3d 916 [2016] ; Matter of Byrd v. Fischer, 117 A.D.3d 1263, 1263, 984 N.Y.S.2d 896 [2014] ). Even if petitioner was confused as to whether the captain was initially speaking to him, petitioner's conduct when he was stopped and requested to produce the permit, as related by the captain, adequately substantiated these charges. However, neither the misbehavior report nor the captain's testimony established that petitioner interfered with an employee (see 7 NYCRR 270.2 [B][8][i] ) and, accordingly, that part of the determination finding him guilty of this charge must be aned (see Matter of Soto v. Central Off. Review Comm. of the Dept. of Corr. & Community Supervision, 118 A.D.3d 1229, 1231, 989 N.Y.S.2d 147 [2014] ). Nevertheless, inasmuch as petitioner has already served the penalty and no loss of good time was imposed, the matter need not be remitted for a redetermination of the penalty on the remaining violations (see Matter of Mohamed v. Prack, 137 A.D.3d 1402, 1403, 25 N.Y.S.3d 918 [2016] ; Matter of
Soto v. Central Off. Review Comm. of the Dept. of Corr.
& Community Supervision, 118 A.D.3d at 1231, 989 N.Y.S.2d 147 ). We note that petitioner's claim that the misbehavior report was written in retaliation for a lawsuit that he had filed presented a credibility issue for the Hearing Officer to resolve (see Matter of Harriott v. Annucci, 131 A.D.3d 754, 754, 13 N.Y.S.3d 918 [2015], lv. dismissed 27 N.Y.3d 1028, 33 N.Y.S.3d 862, 53 N.E.3d 739 [2016] ; Matter of Guillory v. Annucci, 125 A.D.3d 1024, 1024–1025, 1 N.Y.S.3d 581 [2015], lv. denied 25 N.Y.3d 905, 2015 WL 2105654 [2015] ). Furthermore, there is no indication that the Hearing Officer was biased or that the determination flowed from any alleged bias (see Matter of Osborne v. Venettozzi, 141 A.D.3d at 991, 34 N.Y.S.3d 916; Matter of Sanders v. Annucci, 128 A.D.3d 1156, 1157, 7 N.Y.S.3d 733 [2015], appeal dismissed 26 N.Y.3d 964, 18 N.Y.S.3d 600, 40 N.E.3d 578 [2015] ). We have considered petitioner's remaining contentions and find them to be without merit.
ADJUDGED that the determination is modified, without costs, by annulling so much thereof as found petitioner guilty of interfering with an employee; petition granted to that extent and the Commissioner of Corrections and Community Supervision is directed to expunge all references to this charge from petitioner's institutional record; and, as so modified, confirmed.