Opinion
February 26, 1998
Appeal from the Supreme Court (Ellison, J.).
Petitioner, a prison inmate, was found guilty of a facility correspondence violation after prison officials discovered that an envelope addressed to petitioner that appeared to contain legal mail, actually contained two personal letters, one of which was from another inmate. Supreme Court dismissed petitioner's application seeking to challenge the finding of guilt and we affirm. Initially, we find that the misbehavior report was in accordance with the applicable regulation requiring that it be written by one who has "ascertained the facts of the incident" ( 7 NYCRR 251-3.1 [b]). Moreover, contrary to petitioner's assertion, the report was sufficiently detailed so as to give petitioner notice of the charge against him so that he could adequately prepare a defense ( see, Matter of Abdur-Raheem v. Mann, 85 N.Y.2d 113, 123). Petitioner's claim that he received ineffective employee assistance because his assistant failed to provide him with certain documents is similarly without merit, as petitioner was able to access the requested documents on his own. Under the circumstances, we can discern no prejudice that resulted from any alleged failure by his assistant ( see, Matter of Curry v. Coughlin, 175 A.D.2d 970; see also, Matter of Dumpson v. McClellan, 242 A.D.2d 805). Finally, we do not find that the Hearing Officer abused his discretion by removing petitioner from the hearing in view of petitioner's disruptive and accusatory conduct during the proceedings ( see, Matter of Jones v. Selsky, 223 A.D.2d 990, 991). Petitioner's remaining claim of Hearing Officer bias has been examined and found to be without merit.
Mikoll, J. P., Mercure, Crew III, Yesawich Jr. and Peters, JJ., concur.
Ordered that the judgment is affirmed, without costs.