IN RE: Quincy LUNDY (2023)

MEMORANDUM AND JUDGMENT

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, an incarcerated individual, was charged in a misbehavior report with assaulting another incarcerated individual, engaging in violent conduct and creating a disturbance.  According to that report, upon a correctional facility transportation bus catching fire, facility staff and incarcerated individuals exited the bus, at which time it was observed that one of those incarcerated individuals had sustained serious injuries, including lacerations, on his face consistent with the use of a cutting-type instrument.  Confidential information obtained during a subsequent investigation identified petitioner as the assailant.  Following a tier III disciplinary hearing, petitioner was found guilty of assault and not guilty of the remaining charges.  On administrative appeal, the determination was affirmed.  This CPLR article 78 proceeding ensued.

We confirm.  The misbehavior report, related documentary evidence and hearing testimony, including the confidential testimony considered by the Hearing Officer in camera, provide substantial evidence to support the determination of guilt notwithstanding the fact that no weapon was recovered (see Matter of Douglas v. Annucci, 199 A.D.3d 1108, 1110, 156 N.Y.S.3d 531 [3d Dept. 2021];  Matter of Prince v. Annucci, 126 A.D.3d 1201, 1202, 3 N.Y.S.3d 637 [3d Dept. 2015]).  “Although the incident was not witnessed, the circumstantial evidence and the reasonable inferences drawn therefrom provide a sufficient basis for a finding of guilt” (Matter of Hoyes v. Annucci, 213 A.D.3d 1011, 1012, 180 N.Y.S.3d 925 [3d Dept. 2023] [internal quotation marks and citations omitted]).  The differing testimony of petitioner and the incarcerated individual who sustained the injuries presented credibility issues for the Hearing Officer to resolve (see Matter of Barzee v. Venettozzi, 173 A.D.3d 1580, 1581, 102 N.Y.S.3d 808 [3d Dept. 2019];  Matter of Fernandez v. Annucci, 161 A.D.3d 1431, 1432, 77 N.Y.S.3d 721 [3d Dept. 2018]).

Turning to the balance of petitioner's contentions, although petitioner claims that portions of the hearing were not electronically recorded, “the hearing transcript does not substantiate this claim nor disclose the existence of gaps in the testimony that preclude meaningful review” (Matter of Santos v. Annucci, 209 A.D.3d 1084, 1086, 175 N.Y.S.3d 616 [3d Dept. 2022] [internal quotation marks and citation omitted]).  Petitioner's remaining arguments either have not been preserved or lack merit.

ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed.

Clark, J.P., Pritzker, Ceresia, McShan and Mackey, JJ., concur.