UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA 

HAMMOND DIVISION 

WAYNE DAY, 

Petitioner, 

v. Case No. 3:16-CV-148 JVB 

SUPERINTENDENT, 

Respondent. 

OPINION AND ORDER 

 Wayne Day, a pro se prisoner, filed a habeas corpus petition challenging the prison 

disciplinary hearing (REF 15-07-10) where the Indianapolis Re-Entry Educational Facility 

(DHO) found him guilty of Intoxicants in violation of B-231 on July 9, 2015. As a result, he was 

sanctioned with the loss of 90 days earned credit time and demoted to Credit Class 2. Day lists 

four grounds in his petition, but they are merely different ways of arguing that there was 

insufficient evidence to have found him guilty. 

 Day argues that there was no physical evidence. He argues that the officer did not report 

seeing anyone smoking or drinking. He argues that he has a history of having bloodshot eyes. He 

argues that no intoxicants were found. He argues that he passed a drug test. 

 The Court’s function is to determine if the prison disciplinary board’s decision has some 

factual basis: 

In reviewing a decision for some evidence, courts are not required to 

conduct an examination of the entire record, independently assess witness 

credibility, or weigh the evidence, but only determine whether the prison 

disciplinary board’s decision to revoke good time credits has some factual 

basis. 
2 

McPherson v. McBride, 188 F.3d 784, 786 (7th Cir. 1999) (quotation marks omitted). “[T]he 

relevant question is whether there is any evidence in the record that could support the conclusion 

reached by the disciplinary board.” Superintendent v. Hill, 472 U.S. 445, 455-56 (1985). 

[T]he findings of a prison disciplinary board [need only] have the support 

of some evidence in the record. This is a lenient standard, requiring no more 

than a modicum of evidence. Even meager proof will suffice, so long as the 

record is not so devoid of evidence that the findings of the disciplinary board 

were without support or otherwise arbitrary. Although some evidence is not 

much, it still must point to the accused’s guilt. It is not our province to assess 

the comparative weight of the evidence underlying the disciplinary board’s 

decision. 

Webb v. Anderson, 224 F.3d 649, 652 (7th Cir. 2000) (quotation marks, citations, parentheses, 

and ellipses omitted). Even a Conduct Report alone can be sufficient evidence to support a 

finding of guilt. McPherson, 188 F.3d at 786. 

Such is the case here. The Conduct Report states: 

On July 8, 2015 – Wednesday – Approx. 635A (Shortly after walks open). 

I Ofcr. J. L. Mercado walked into room “D1N-09,” resident – Day, Wayne 

# 198354 was seen out-of-place in a “sickly sweet smoky smelling” room 

(D1N-09) along with 3 other residents – they were trying to spray blue 

deodorizing chemical in room. ID’s collected from residents – Sgt. Lowery 

& Lt. McPherson were called to signal 8 to unit 1. Upon arrival of Sgt. 

Lowery & Lt. McPherson went down to room D1N-09 and confirmed 

“weird-smell” in room at that time. All 4 were escorted to shift office by 

Ofcr. Boyd, Sgt. Lowery & Lt. McPherson. All 4 residents noted to have 

“red-blood-shot eyes,” while leaving unit by this officer. 

(DE 1-1 at 1.) These observations by the officer are sufficient to support finding Day guilty of 

having been intoxicated. It was not arbitrary to reach that conclusion in light of the fact that he 

was found in a room where he did not belong with blood-shot eyes with three other residents 

who were trying to mask the scent of a sweet smoky smell. Though the DHO could have reached 

a different conclusion, “[t]he Federal Constitution does not require evidence that logically 

precludes any conclusion but the one reached by the disciplinary board.” Hill, 472 U.S. at 457. 
3 

 For these reasons, the Court DENIES the habeas corpus petition pursuant to Section 

2254 Habeas Corpus Rule 4 and DIRECTS the Clerk to close this case. 

SO ORDERED on October 11, 2016. 

s/ Joseph S. Van Bokkelen 

JOSEPH S. VAN BOKKELEN 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE