State of New York
Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Third Judicial Department
Decided and Entered: June 23, 2016 521772
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In the Matter of CHARLES
WILLIAMS,
Petitioner,
v MEMORANDUM AND JUDGMENT
ANTHONY J. ANNUCCI, as Acting
Commissioner of Corrections
and Community Supervision,
Respondent.
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Calendar Date: May 3, 2016
Before: Peters, P.J., Lahtinen, Egan Jr., Rose and Clark, JJ.
__________
Charles Williams, Attica, 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 Albany County) to
review a determination of respondent finding petitioner guilty of
violating a prison disciplinary rule.
Petitioner was charged in a misbehavior report with using a
controlled substance after his urine twice tested positive for
THC. Following a tier III disciplinary hearing, he was found
guilty as charged. The determination was affirmed upon
administrative appeal with a modified penalty. This CPLR article
78 proceeding ensued.
We confirm. The misbehavior report, positive urinalysis
test results and related documentation, as well as the hearing
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testimony, provide substantial evidence to support the
determination of guilt (see Matter of Martinez v Annucci, 134
AD3d 1380, 1380-1381 [2015]; Matter of Williams v Annucci, 134
AD3d 1378, 1378-1379 [2015], lv denied 27 NY3d 904 [2016]).
Petitioner's contention that he was denied adequate assistance is
without merit as the Hearing Officer remedied any deficiencies
and petitioner has failed to demonstrate that he was prejudiced
(see Matter of McMaster v Annucci, 138 AD3d 1289, 1290 [2016];
Matter of Guillory v Annucci, 125 AD3d 1024, 1025 [2015], lv
denied 25 NY3d 905 [2015]). Further, the Hearing Officer did not
err in denying petitioner's request to have another inmate's
urinalysis procedure form entered into evidence as it was
irrelevant to the charge against him and, in any event, the
inmate was permitted to testify regarding the contents of the
form and its similarity to petitioner's form (see Matter of
McCorkle v Bennett, 8 AD3d 918, 919 [2004]).
Petitioner's request to call the former superintendent of
the correctional facility and the supervisor of the inmate
grievance program was properly denied as their testimony would
have been irrelevant to whether petitioner was guilty of the
charge (see Matter of Sanders v Annucci, 128 AD3d 1156, 1157
[2015], appeal dismissed 26 NY3d 964 [2015]). Further, the
record confirms that the Hearing Officer made a sufficient
inquiry after one of petitioner's requested inmate witnesses
refused to testify (see Matter of Rodriguez v Annucci, 136 AD3d
1083, 1084 [2016]; Matter of Thurmond v Fischer, 112 AD3d 1234,
1235 [2013]). Petitioner's remaining contentions have been
reviewed and found to be lacking in merit.
Peters, P.J., Lahtinen, Egan Jr., Rose and Clark, JJ.,
concur.
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ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, without
costs, and petition dismissed.
ENTER:
Robert D. Mayberger
Clerk of the Court