Learn About the Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
IN RE: Michael D'ONOFRIO, Petitioner, v. CHAIR OF NEW YORK STATE DIVISION OF PAROLE, 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 the Board of Parole which revoked petitioner's parole.
Petitioner was charged with violating the conditions of his parole when he, among other things, refused to obey a request by parole officers to open the door to his apartment. He waived his right to a preliminary hearing. Following a final parole revocation hearing, his parole was revoked. Petitioner filed an administrative appeal and commenced this CPLR article 78 proceeding when a timely response was not received.
“It is well settled that ‘a determination to revoke parole will be confirmed if the procedural requirements were followed and there is evidence which, if credited, would support such determination’ ” (Matter of Williams v. New York State Div. of Parole, 23 A.D.3d 800, 800, 803 N.Y.S.2d 320 [2005], quoting Matter of Layne v. New York State Bd. of Parole, 256 A.D.2d 990, 992, 684 N.Y.S.2d 4 [1998], lv. dismissed 93 N.Y.2d 886, 689 N.Y.S.2d 427, 711 N.E.2d 641 [1999] ). Here, the evidence presented at the final parole revocation hearing provides substantial evidence supporting the determination revoking petitioner's parole. The parole officers who sought to gain entry to petitioner's apartment testified that, although they heard noise coming from inside the apartment, they had to knock on the door for approximately 15 minutes before petitioner finally opened it. Petitioner's claim that he was sleeping with his iPod in his ears and did not hear the officers presented a credibility issue for the Administrative Law Judge to resolve (see Matter of Faulkner v. New York State Div. of Parole, 25 A.D.3d 1047, 1048, 809 N.Y.S.2d 597 [2006] ), especially considering that one officer testified that the bed did not appear to have been slept in and that no iPod was found. Petitioner's remaining contentions have not been preserved for our review.
ADJUDGED that the determination is confirmed, without costs, and petition dismissed.
Thank you for your feedback!
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes visit FindLaw's Learn About the Law.
Decided: November 19, 2009
Court: Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Department, New York.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)
Harness the power of our directory with your own profile. Select the button below to sign up.
Learn more about FindLaw’s newsletters, including our terms of use and privacy policy.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)