Matter of Hernandez v Fischer

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Matter of Hernandez v Fischer 2012 NY Slip Op 08601 Decided on December 13, 2012 Appellate Division, Third Department Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law ยง 431. This opinion is uncorrected and subject to revision before publication in the Official Reports.

Decided and Entered: December 13, 2012
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[*1]In the Matter of JARED HERNANDEZ, Petitioner,

v

BRIAN FISCHER, as Commissioner of Corrections and Community Supervision, Respondent.

Calendar Date: October 29, 2012
Before: Peters, P.J., Lahtinen, Spain, Stein and McCarthy, JJ.


Jared Hernandez, Dannemora, petitioner pro se.
Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany
(Peter H. Schiff of counsel), for respondent.


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 which found petitioner guilty of violating certain prison disciplinary rules.

After a search disclosed various items of contraband in petitioner's cell, he was charged in a misbehavior report with possessing weapons and a tattoo machine. At the tier III disciplinary hearing that followed, petitioner pleaded guilty to possessing tattoo equipment and was found guilty of the weapons possession charge. While the penalty imposed was reduced upon administrative appeal, the determination was otherwise upheld, and this CPLR article 78 proceeding ensued.

Contrary to petitioner's contention, his plea of guilty to possessing tattoo equipment "precludes any challenge to that portion of the determination" (Matter of Spencer v Goord, 38 AD3d 1028, 1028 [2007], lv denied 9 NY3d 802 [2007]; see Matter of Linnen v Prack, 92 AD3d 986, 987 [2012], lv dismissed ___ NY3d ___ [Nov. 20, 2012]). As for the weapons possession charge, respondent correctly concedes that it must be annulled due to the unjustified refusal of correction officials to permit petitioner to observe the search of his cell (see Matter of Morales v Fischer, 89 AD3d 1346, 1347 [2011]). Inasmuch as a loss of good time was recommended as [*2]part of the penalty imposed, the matter must be remitted so that respondent may reassess the penalty upon the remaining violation (see Matter of Linnen v Prack, 92 AD3d at 987; Matter of Dawes v Venettozzi, 87 AD3d 1219, 1220 [2011], lv denied 18 NY3d 803 [2012]).

Peters, P.J., Lahtinen, Spain, Stein and McCarthy, JJ., concur.

ADJUDGED that the determination is modified, without costs, by annulling so much thereof as found petitioner guilty of possessing weapons and imposed a penalty; petition granted to that extent, respondent is directed to expunge all references thereto from petitioner's institutional record and matter remitted to respondent for an administrative redetermination of the penalty imposed on the remaining violation; and, as so modified, confirmed.

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