IN RE: Varinder SINGH (2019)

MEMORANDUM AND JUDGMENT

After a suspicion-based search of petitioner's cube uncovered a portion of a white pill in a box underneath petitioner's desk, petitioner was charged in a misbehavior report with possessing drugs and contraband.  Following a tier III disciplinary hearing, petitioner was found guilty of both charges and a penalty was imposed.  That determination was affirmed upon petitioner's administrative appeal, and this CPLR article 78 proceeding ensued.

We confirm.  To the extent that petitioner's brief may be read as challenging the finding of guilt as to both the drug and contraband charges, we find that the detailed misbehavior report and positive test results provide substantial evidence to support the determination (see Matter of Guzman v. Annucci, 156 A.D.3d 1069, 1069, 66 N.Y.S.3d 740 [2017];  Matter of Williams v. Fischer, 106 A.D.3d 1354, 1355, 965 N.Y.S.2d 395 [2013] ).  Absent a request by petitioner, the Hearing Officer was not required to call as a witness the correction sergeant who both authored the misbehavior report and tested the seized substance (see Matter of Rivera v. Annucci, 160 A.D.3d 1273, 1273, 71 N.Y.S.3d 909 [2018] ).

Petitioner's procedural claims are also unpersuasive.  The disciplinary hearing was adjourned in order for petitioner to obtain certain additional documents that he had requested.  When the hearing reconvened, the Hearing Officer asked petitioner if he had received all of the documents that he had requested or that were otherwise available to him, and petitioner responded in the affirmative.  Accordingly, petitioner's present claim – the he was denied or received incomplete documentary evidence – is unpreserved for our review (see Matter of Rodriguez v. Annucci, 136 A.D.3d 1083, 1084, 23 N.Y.S.3d 753 [2016];  Matter of Monje v. Geoghegan, 108 A.D.3d 957, 957–958, 969 N.Y.S.2d 612 [2013] ).  We reach a similar conclusion regarding petitioner's chain of custody argument, as he raised no objection in this regard at the hearing (see Matter of Laliveres v. Annucci, 156 A.D.3d 1106, 1106, 65 N.Y.S.3d 475 [2017] ).  Finally, although petitioner did object to the timing of his urinalysis testing, as the Hearing Officer observed, petitioner was charged with possession offenses and, as such, the timing and/or results of any urinalysis testing were irrelevant to the charged violations (see Matter of Rodriguez v. Venettozzi, 156 A.D.3d 1029, 1030, 66 N.Y.S.3d 555 [2017] ).  Petitioner's remaining contentions, to the extent not specifically addressed, have been examined and found to be lacking in merit.

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

Garry, P.J., Lynch, Clark, Devine and Pritzker, JJ., concur.