Opinion
November 9, 1995
Appeal from the Supreme Court, Chemung County.
A search of a package being mailed by petitioner, an inmate at Elmira Correctional Facility in Chemung County, revealed that petitioner had improperly used old towels for padding and petitioner was disciplined accordingly. Three months later, a stolen trinket was recalled to have been in the package and, petitioner was again disciplined. Petitioner commenced this proceeding challenging the determination that he had possessed the stolen trinket.
The testimony of the correction officer performing the package inspection provided substantial evidence to support the determination ( see, Matter of Bostic v Coughlin, 216 A.D.2d 766). The fact that there was an extended delay linking the stolen trinket and the one observed in the package mailed by petitioner months earlier, and the circumstances surrounding such linking, merely raised an issue of credibility for the Hearing Officer to resolve ( see, Matter of Hernandez v LeFevre, 150 A.D.2d 954, lv denied 74 N.Y.2d 615; Matter of Bernacet v Coughlin, 145 A.D.2d 802, lv denied 74 N.Y.2d 603).
Not having expressed a desire to call as a witness or otherwise contact the recipient of the package to establish that the package did not contain the trinket, petitioner effectively waived his right to do so ( see, Matter of Colucci v Scully, 173 A.D.2d 953, 955). It was acknowledged that the trinket was not a topic of the misbehavior report involving the improper use of the towels and, as that issue was not in controversy, there was no error in failing to introduce the report as an exhibit. Petitioner's remaining contentions have been examined and found to be without merit.
Cardona, P.J., Casey, Yesawich Jr. and Peters, JJ., concur. Adjudged that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed.