Opinion
524870
03-08-2018
In the Matter of Michael MAISONET, Petitioner, v. Anthony J. ANNUCCI, as Acting Commissioner of Corrections and Community Supervision, Respondent.
Michael Maisonet, Auburn, petitioner pro se. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Marcus J. Mastracco of counsel), for respondent.
Michael Maisonet, Auburn, petitioner pro se.
Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Marcus J. Mastracco of counsel), for respondent.
Before: McCarthy, J.P., Egan Jr., Lynch, Devine and Aarons, JJ.
MEMORANDUM AND JUDGMENT
Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 (transferred to this Court by order of the Supreme Court, entered in Ulster County) to review a determination of respondent finding petitioner guilty of violating a prison disciplinary rule.
Based upon reports that petitioner had threatened another inmate with a weapon, a search of his cell was conducted and a sharpened metal shank was found concealed in his left work boot under his bed. As a result, petitioner was charged in a misbehavior report with possession of a weapon and, following a tier III disciplinary hearing, he was found guilty of this charge. That determination was upheld on administrative appeal, with a reduction in the penalty assessed. Petitioner thereafter commenced this CPLR article 78 proceeding.
We confirm. The misbehavior report, testimony of the officers who conducted the search and documentary evidence provide substantial evidence to support the determination of guilt (see Matter of Clark v. Smith, 155 A.D.3d 1232, 1233, 63 N.Y.S.3d 276 [2017] ; Matter of Davey v. Annucci, 153 A.D.3d 992, 993, 56 N.Y.S.3d 913 [2017] ). While petitioner contends that the Hearing Officer erred in failing to independently assess the reliability of the confidential information that prompted the search of his cell, the determination of guilt was based upon the actual discovery of the weapon and, thus, the veracity of the confidential information was irrelevant (see Matter of Clark v. Smith, 155 A.D.3d at 1233, 63 N.Y.S.3d 276; Matter of Mason v. Annucci, 153 A.D.3d 1013, 1014, 56 N.Y.S.3d 906 [2017] ). Petitioner was not improperly denied the right to call various witnesses, inasmuch as the Hearing Officer accepted as true his claims that he had filed a grievance and raised concerns that a weapon would be planted in his cell (see Matter of Elias v. Fischer, 118 A.D.3d 1193, 1194, 987 N.Y.S.2d 517 [2014] ; Matter of Barnes v. Prack, 92 A.D.3d 990, 991, 937 N.Y.S.2d 472 [2012] ). Finally, contrary to petitioner's contention, the record demonstrates that the finding of guilt was premised on the evidence presented, rather than any alleged hearing officer bias (see Matter of Williams v. Department of Corr. & Community Supervision, 155 A.D.3d 1207, 1207, 63 N.Y.S.3d 267 [2017] ; Matter of Kalwasinski v. Venettozzi, 152 A.D.3d 853, 854 [2017] ). We have considered petitioner's remaining arguments and find them to be without merit.
ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed.
McCarthy, J.P., Egan Jr., Lynch, Devine and Aarons, JJ., concur.