Opinion
2014-08-7
In the Matter of Saurio RODRIGUEZ, Petitioner, v. Brian FISCHER, as Commissioner of Corrections and Community Supervision, Respondent.
Saurio Rodriguez, Attica, petitioner pro se. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Peter H. Schiff of counsel), for respondent.
Saurio Rodriguez, Attica, petitioner pro se. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Peter H. Schiff of counsel), for respondent.
Before: PETERS, P.J., LAHTINEN, McCARTHY, ROSE and LYNCH, 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 which found petitioner guilty of violating certain prison disciplinary rules.
During a search of petitioner's cell, a correction officer found a letter to petitioner requesting that he contact another inmate's mother to set up a drug transaction. Upon being interviewed, petitioner confirmed that the letter was about smuggling drugs into the correctional facility. Consequently, petitioner was charged in a misbehavior report with engaging in an unauthorized exchange, possessing drugs, smuggling, exchanging personal identification numbers and violating facility correspondence procedures. Petitioner was found guilty of the charges following a tier III disciplinary hearing and the determination was affirmed on administrative appeal. This CPLR article 78 proceeding ensued.
We confirm. The misbehavior report, confiscated letter and testimony adduced at the hearing provide substantial evidence supporting the determination of guilt ( see Matter of Moore v. Fischer, 63 A.D.3d 1401, 1401, 880 N.Y.S.2d 790 [2009];Matter of Reed v. Goord, 16 A.D.3d 796, 796, 790 N.Y.S.2d 770 [2005] ). Petitioner's denial of the charges presented a credibility issue for the Hearing Officer to resolve ( see Matter of Jones v. Prack, 114 A.D.3d 985, 985, 979 N.Y.S.2d 865 [2014];Matter of Ferrer v. Prack, 107 A.D.3d 1254, 966 N.Y.S.2d 923 [2013] ). Furthermore, even though no drugs were actually recovered, a violation of the rules occurred when petitioner conspired to smuggle drugs into the facility ( see7 NYCRR 270.3 [b][2]; Matter of Booker v. Fischer, 102 A.D.3d 1045, 1046, 958 N.Y.S.2d 239 [2013];Matter of Brown v. Fischer, 98 A.D.3d 778, 779, 949 N.Y.S.2d 803 [2012] ). In view of the foregoing, and given that petitioner's remaining contentions have not been preserved for our review, we find no reason to disturb the determination of guilt.
ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed.