Court Opinion

ID: 180851
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-12-10 18:00:56+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:25:53.147603
License: Public Domain

ALD-041                                                      NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                          UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                               FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
                                    ___________

                                     No. 10-3032
                                     ___________

                                   GARY HOWARD,
                                                       Appellant

                                           v.

                 ROBERT WERLINGER WARDEN, F.C.I. LORETTO
                    ____________________________________

                     On Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Western District of Pennsylvania
                              (D.C. Civil No. 10-cv-00072)
                       District Judge: Honorable Kim R. Gibson
                      ____________________________________

         Submitted for Possible Dismissal Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)
         or Summary Action Pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 27.4 and I.O.P. 10.6
                                  November 18, 2010

              Before: SCIRICA, HARDIMAN and VANASKIE, Circuit Judges

                               (Filed: December 10, 2010 )
                                        _________

                               OPINION OF THE COURT
                                     _________

PER CURIAM.

       Gary Howard appeals the District Court’s order denying his habeas petition filed

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241. For the reasons below, we will summarily affirm the

District Court’s order.
       Howard, a federal prisoner, was charged with a disciplinary violation of engaging

in a sexual act. According to the officer who wrote the incident report, Howard was

observed rubbing his female visitor’s groin as well as his own groin during a visit. When

confronted, he stated that he did not do anything, and if he had, the officer could not see

it because his visitor’s scarf was covering the behavior. After a hearing, Howard was

found guilty and lost 27 days of good conduct time. After challenging the sanction

through the Bureau of Prison’s (BOP) administrative process, Howard filed a § 2241

petition challenging the loss of good conduct time. The District Court denied the

petition, and Howard filed a timely notice of appeal.

       Howard contends that his rights to due process were violated by the disciplinary

hearing. Due process entitles prisoners to advance written notice of disciplinary charges

and a written statement by the factfinder of the evidence relied upon and the reasons for

the action taken. Wolff v. McDonnell, 418 U.S. 539, 563 (1974). Prisoners may call

witnesses and present evidence as long as it would not be hazardous to prison safety or

correctional goals. Id. at 566. The prison administration is not required to allow a

prisoner to cross-examine and confront witnesses in a disciplinary hearing and has the

discretion to limit the hearing and the witnesses called to protect institutional security.

Id. at 566-67. A decision to revoke good time credits must be supported by some

evidence. Superintendent v. Hill, 472 U.S. 445, 454 (1985). “Ascertaining whether this

standard is satisfied does not require examination of the entire record, independent

assessment of the credibility of witnesses, or weighing of the evidence. Instead, the
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relevant question is whether there is any evidence in the record that could support the

conclusion reached by the disciplinary board.” Id. at 455-56.

       Howard contends that the BOP denied him due process when the hearing officer

refused to view video footage of the incident and instead relied on two officers’ review of

the footage.

However, the officers’ reports of Howard’s actions constitute some evidence supporting

the hearing officer’s finding of guilt. Howard also argues that he should have been

allowed to view the video footage of the incident. The BOP does not allow inmates to

view surveillance video for security reasons. As noted above, due process does not

require that an inmate be allowed to confront the evidence against him. Thus, Howard

was not entitled to view the video footage of the incident. Moreover, we note that

Howard’s staff representative viewed the video and agreed with the charge.

       Howard also argues that he did not commit a “sexual act” as defined by 18 U.S.C.

§ 2246. He asserts that even if he had his hands between the legs of his female visitor,

there was never contact between his mouth or penis with her anus or vagina as required

under that federal definition of sexual act. However, he was not charged with a

committing a sexual act under § 2246. Moreover, even if the federal statute were

relevant, the conduct he describes would be considered “sexual contact” under that

statute. See 18 U.S.C. § 2246(3) (“Sexual contact” includes the intentional touching of

the inner thigh through the clothing with the intent to arouse.)

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       Summary action is appropriate if there is no substantial question presented in the

appeal. See Third Circuit LAR 27.4. For the above reasons, as well as those set forth by

the District Court, we will summarily affirm the District Court’s order. See Third Circuit

I.O.P. 10.6.

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