Case ID: ad3d_19/html/0959-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

In the Matter of Allen Valerio, Petitioner, v Donald Selsky, as Director of Special Housing and Inmate Disciplinary Programs, Respondent.
    [797 NYS2d 643]
   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 Commissioner of Correctional Services which found petitioner guilty of violating certain prison disciplinary rules.

Petitioner commenced this CPLR article 78 proceeding to challenge a determination finding him guilty of violating prison disciplinary rules prohibiting violent conduct, making threats and refusing to obey a direct order. Contrary to petitioner’s contention, the detailed misbehavior report, which was written by the facility employee who was the victim of the alleged misconduct, was “ ‘sufficiently relevant and probative’ to constitute substantial evidence” of his guilt (Matter of Foster v Coughlin, 76 NY2d 964, 966 [1990] [citations omitted], quoting Matter of Perez v Wilmot, 67 NY2d 615, 616-617 [1986]; see Matter of Johnson v Goord, 4 AD3d 582, 583-584 [2004], lv denied 2 NY3d 708 [2004]). The explanation offered by petitioner merely raised an issue of credibility that the Hearing Officer was free to resolve (see Matter of McCann v Goord, 4 AD3d 712 [2004]). To the extent that they were preserved, petitioner’s remaining contentions, including his claim of hearing officer bias, have been reviewed and found to be unsupported by the record.

Crew III, J.P., Peters, Carpinello, Mugglin and Rose, JJ., concur. Adjudged that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed.