State of New York

Supreme Court, Appellate Division

Third Judicial Department

Decided and Entered: December 1, 2016 522682 

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In the Matter of LUIS CINTRON, 

Petitioner, 

v MEMORANDUM AND JUDGMENT

MICHAEL KIRKPATRICK, as 

Superintendent of Clinton 

Correctional Facility, 

Respondent.

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Calendar Date: October 25, 2016

Before: McCarthy, J.P., Egan Jr., Rose, Devine and Aarons, JJ.

__________

Luis Cintron, Ossining, petitioner pro se.

Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Marcus J.

Mastracco of counsel), for respondent.

__________

Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 (transferred to this

Court by order of the Supreme Court, entered in Clinton County)

to review a determination of respondent finding petitioner guilty

of violating certain prison disciplinary rules. 

Petitioner was charged in a misbehavior report with

possession of contraband and possession of stolen property after

a search of his cell uncovered 19 state garbage bags in the

bottom of petitioner's locker and five library books. Petitioner

was found guilty of both charges following a tier II disciplinary

hearing and that determination was affirmed upon administrative

appeal. This CPLR article 78 proceeding ensued. 

To the extent that petitioner asserts that he did not plead

guilty to possession of contraband, the hearing transcript and
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signed hearing record sheet belie that contention. Given that

petitioner admitted to possessing the garbage bags and entered a

guilty plea to the charge of possession of contraband, "he is

precluded from challenging the determination of guilt with

respect to that charge" (Matter of Smith v Fischer, 85 AD3d 1481,

1482 [2011]; see Matter of Hemphill v Selsky, 26 AD3d 548, 549-

550 [2006]).

With regard to the charge of stealing state property, we do

not find that there is substantial evidence to support the

determination of guilt. Although petitioner admitted to

possessing a large number of garbage bags, neither the

misbehavior report nor any evidence at the hearing establish that

petitioner stole the bags. Similarly, the fact that books were

found in petitioner's cell without any additional information

does not establish that petitioner stole the books. Petitioner's

explanation as to why he possessed the books was not refuted by

any evidence, including the sparse, conclusory information set

forth in the misbehavior report. Under these circumstances,

there is no evidence to establish that the items discovered in

petitioner's cell were in fact stolen (see Matter of Santiago v

Cunningham, 121 AD3d 1495, 1495-1496 [2014]; Matter of Nimmons v

Fischer, 85 AD3d 1460, 1461 [2011]; Matter of Hemphill v Selsky,

26 AD3d at 550). Because petitioner has already served the

penalty and no loss of good time was imposed, the matter need not

be remitted for a redetermination of the penalty (see Matter of

Vega v Prack, 141 AD3d 1059, 1060 [2016]). 

McCarthy, J.P., Egan Jr., Rose, Devine and Aarons, JJ.,

concur.
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ADJUDGED that the determination is modified, without costs,

by annulling so much thereof as found petitioner guilty of

stealing state property; petition granted to that extent and

respondent is directed to expunge all references to this charge

from petitioner's institutional record; and, as so modified,

confirmed.

ENTER:

Robert D. Mayberger

Clerk of the Court