Opinion
2017–00197 Index No. 673/16
10-03-2018
In the Matter of William MCKETHAN, petitioner, v. R. HARRIS, etc., respondent.
William McKethan, Beacon, N.Y., petitioner pro se. Barbara D. Underwood, Attorney General, New York, N.Y. (Judith N. Vale and David Lawrence III of counsel), for respondent.
William McKethan, Beacon, N.Y., petitioner pro se.
Barbara D. Underwood, Attorney General, New York, N.Y. (Judith N. Vale and David Lawrence III of counsel), for respondent.
RUTH C. BALKIN, J.P., JOHN M. LEVENTHAL, SYLVIA O. HINDS–RADIX, LINDA CHRISTOPHER, JJ.
DECISION & JUDGMENT
Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 to review a determination of the Superintendent of the Fishkill Correctional Facility dated February 17, 2016, which affirmed a determination of a hearing officer dated February 10, 2016, made after a tier II disciplinary hearing, finding the petitioner guilty of violating Institutional Rules of Conduct rule 106.10 (violating a direct order), 107.10 (interfering with an employee), and 109.12 (violating staff directions relating to movement) ( 7 NYCRR 270.2 [B][7][i]; [8][i]; [10][iii] ), and imposing penalties.
ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, the petition is denied, and the proceeding is dismissed on the merits, without costs or disbursements.
Contrary to the petitioner's contention, the determination under review was supported by substantial evidence (see 300 Gramatan Ave. Assoc. v. State Div. of Human Rights, 45 N.Y.2d 176, 181, 408 N.Y.S.2d 54, 379 N.E.2d 1183 ; Matter of Loiacono v. Demarzo, 72 A.D.3d 969, 970, 898 N.Y.S.2d 513 ). The ruling of the hearing officer, denying the petitioner's request to call a character witness, did not violate the petitioner's right to call witnesses and complied with the relevant regulations, since such testimony would not have been material to the issues before the hearing officer (see 7 NYCRR 254.5 [a]; Matter of Navarro v. Prack, 156 A.D.3d 994, 995, 66 N.Y.S.3d 372 ; Matter of Rivera v. Prack, 97 A.D.3d 879, 880, 948 N.Y.S.2d 196 ).
The petitioner's remaining contentions are without merit.
BALKIN, J.P., LEVENTHAL, HINDS–RADIX and CHRISTOPHER, JJ., concur.