State of New York
Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Third Judicial Department
Decided and Entered: February 5, 2015 519186
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In the Matter of DAVID RAMOS,
Petitioner,
v MEMORANDUM AND JUDGMENT
ALBERT PRACK, as Director of
Special Housing and Inmate
Disciplinary Programs,
Respondent.
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Calendar Date: December 2, 2014
Before: Peters, P.J., McCarthy, Garry and Clark, JJ.
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David Ramos, Auburn, petitioner pro se.
Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Peter H.
Schiff of counsel), for respondent.
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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 Corrections and
Community Supervision which found petitioner guilty of violating
certain prison disciplinary rules.
Petitioner was charged with multiple prison disciplinary
violations arising from three separate incidents all of which
occurred on June 18, 2013. The first misbehavior report charged
him with stalking, making threats and harassment. The second
misbehavior report charged him with possessing contraband. The
third misbehavior report, which was prepared after petitioner was
found to be in possession of an altered pair of state-issued
pants and an extra pair of headphones, charged him with
possessing an altered item as well as contraband. Following a
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tier III disciplinary hearing on the three misbehavior reports,
petitioner was found guilty of all charges. On administrative
appeal, the determination was modified by dismissing the stalking
charge and reducing the penalty. This CPLR article 78 proceeding
ensued.
With respect to the charges in the first and second
misbehavior reports for which petitioner was found guilty,
respondent concedes that procedural irregularities mandate
annulment of that part of the determination finding petitioner
guilty of these charges and, upon reviewing the record, we agree.
Accordingly, we annul that part of the determination, but need
not remit the matter for a redetermination of the penalty given
that no loss of good time was imposed and petitioner has already
served the penalty (see Matter of Brown v New York State Dept. of
Corrections & Community Supervision, 119 AD3d 1205, 1206 [2014];
Matter of Fulmore v Prack, 116 AD3d 1281, 1282 [2014]). We reach
a different conclusion with regard to that part of the
determination finding petitioner guilty of the charges contained
in the third misbehavior report. The detailed misbehavior report
provides substantial evidence supporting petitioner's guilt of
possessing an altered item and contraband (see Matter of Bermudez
v Fischer, 107 AD3d 1269, 1270 [2013]; Matter of Tuitt v
Martuscello, 106 AD3d 1355, 1356 [2013], lv denied 21 NY3d 865
[2013]).1 Contrary to petitioner's claim, the record does not
reveal that the Hearing Officer was biased or that the
determination of guilt flowed from any alleged bias (see Matter
of Paddyfote v Fischer, 118 AD3d 1240, 1241 [2014]; Matter of
McClough v Fischer, 118 AD3d 1228, 1229 [2014]). Therefore, that
part of the determination finding petitioner guilty of these
charges is confirmed.
Peters, P.J., McCarthy, Garry and Clark, JJ., concur.
1
We note further that petitioner admitted to possessing an
extra set of ear phones, which was not authorized.
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ADJUDGED that the determination is modified, without costs,
by annulling so much thereof as found petitioner guilty of making
threats, harassment and possessing contraband as charged in the
first and second misbehavior reports; petition granted to that
extent and the Commissioner of Corrections and Community
Supervision is directed to expunge all references to these
charges from petitioner's institutional record; and, as so
modified, confirmed.
ENTER:
Robert D. Mayberger
Clerk of the Court