Barnes v. Venettozzi

207 A.D.3d 969

172 N.Y.S.3d 775

In the Matter of Arrello BARNES, Petitioner,

v.Donald VENETTOZZI, As Acting Director of Special Housing and Inmate Disciplinary Programs, Respondent.

534376

Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Department, New York.

Calendar Date: June 17, 2022

Decided and Entered: July 21, 2022

Arrello Barnes, Auburn, petitioner pro se.

Letitia James, Attorney General, Albany (Kate H. Nepveu of counsel), for respondent.

Before: Garry, P.J., Lynch, Pritzker, Reynolds Fitzgerald and Fisher, JJ.

MEMORANDUM AND JUDGMENT

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 the Acting Commissioner of Corrections and Community Supervision finding petitioner guilty of violating certain prison disciplinary rules.

Petitioner, an incarcerated individual, was charged in a misbehavior report with fighting, engaging in violent conduct, creating a disturbance and refusing a direct order. According to the misbehavior report, petitioner, while in the facility's recreation yard, was observed punching the head and upper body of another incarcerated individual and refused an initial order to stop fighting. Shortly thereafter, petitioner underwent a strip frisk prior to being admitted to the facility's special housing unit, whereupon petitioner surrendered 30 bundles of a green leafy substance that were on his person.¹ As a result, petitioner was charged in a second misbehavior report with smuggling and possessing contraband. Following a tier III disciplinary hearing on the charges contained in both reports, petitioner was found guilty as charged. Following an unsuccessful administrative appeal, petitioner commenced this CPLR article 78 proceeding challenging the determination.

We confirm. The misbehavior reports, related documentation, video evidence and hearing testimony, and the inferences to be drawn therefrom, provide substantial evidence to support the determinations of guilt (see Matter of Cordova v. Annucci, 199 A.D.3d 1152, 1153, 156 N.Y.S.3d 573 [2021] ; Matter of Spencer v. Annucci, 179 A.D.3d 1372, 1373, 117 N.Y.S.3d 745 [2020] ). Petitioner's exculpatory statements and denial of guilt as to the charges contained in the misbehavior reports presented credibility issues for resolution by the Hearing Officer (see e.g. Matter of Verdi v. Collado, 200 A.D.3d 1379, 1380, 160 N.Y.S.3d 416 [2021] ). As for that part of the determination finding petitioner guilty of smuggling and possessing contraband, neither charge required that the substance confiscated be tested for drugs (see Matter of Piletas v. Venettozzi, 151 A.D.3d 1444, 1445, 54 N.Y.S.3d 343 [2017] ).

As for petitioner's procedural...