Opinion
2012-04-19
In the Matter of Kevin PEOPLES, Petitioner, v. Norman R. BEZIO, as Director of Special Housing and Inmate Disciplinary Programs, et al., Respondents.
Kevin Peoples, Elmira, petitioner pro se. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Peter H. Schiff of counsel), for respondents.
Kevin Peoples, Elmira, petitioner pro se. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Peter H. Schiff of counsel), for respondents.
Before: PETERS, P.J., ROSE, SPAIN, STEIN and EGAN JR., 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 respondent Commissioner of Corrections and Community Supervision which found petitioner guilty of violating certain prison disciplinary rules.
Petitioner ignored a correction officer's directive to come to him and entered the cell of another inmate where he proceeded to engage in a fist fight. The officer gave both inmates several orders to stop fighting to no avail. He then grabbed petitioner's right shoulder at which time petitioner struck him in the face and knocked off his glasses. Petitioner proceeded to stomp on the officer's foot and, upon returning to his cell, threw the officer's glasses to the floor. As a result of this incident, petitioner was charged in a misbehavior report with assaulting staff, fighting, engaging in violent conduct, refusing a direct order, interfering with an employee, destroying property and creating a disturbance. Following a tier III disciplinary hearing, he was found guilty of all of the charges except for creating a disturbance. After the determination was affirmed on administrative appeal, petitioner commenced this CPLR article 78 proceeding.
We confirm. The misbehavior report, related documentation and hearing testimony, including petitioner's admissions to certain misconduct, provide substantial evidence supporting the determination of guilt ( see Matter of Mance v. Prack, 89 A.D.3d 1363, 933 N.Y.S.2d 621 [2011]; Matter of Cole v. New York State Dept. of Correctional Servs., 87 A.D.3d 1243, 1243, 931 N.Y.S.2d 712 [2011] ). Petitioner's assertions that the misbehavior report was fabricated and that he was assaulted by correction officers presented credibility issues for the Hearing Officer to resolve ( see Matter of Coleman v. Fischer, 87 A.D.3d 778, 779, 928 N.Y.S.2d 153 [2011]; Matter of Peoples v. Selsky, 33 A.D.3d 1179, 1180, 822 N.Y.S.2d 824 [2006] ). His remaining contentions have not been preserved for our review due to his failure to raise them at the hearing or in his administrative appeal.
ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed.