Matter of Gssime v New York State Div. of Parole |
2011 NY Slip Op 04154 [84 AD3d 1630] |
May 19, 2011 |
Appellate Division, Third Department |
Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431. |
In the Matter of Said Gssime, Appellant, v New York State Division of Parole, Respondent. |
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Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Julie M. Sheridan of counsel), for respondent.
Appeal from a judgment of the Supreme Court (McGrath, J.), entered October 27, 2010 in Albany County, which dismissed petitioner's application, in a proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78, to review a determination of the Board of Parole denying petitioner's request for parole release.
In 1998, petitioner was convicted of arson in the second degree and criminal contempt in the
first degree after he set fire to a home in which his young daughter, estranged wife and in-laws
were sleeping. He was sentenced, respectively, to concurrent terms of 12½ to 25 years and
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It is well settled that parole release decisions are discretionary and will not be disturbed so long as the Board complied with the statutory requirements enumerated in Executive Law § 259-i (see Matter of Santos v Evans, 81 AD3d 1059, 1060 [2011]; Matter of Wright v Alexander, 71 AD3d 1270, 1271 [2010]). Here, the record discloses that the Board properly considered the serious nature of petitioner's crimes, his clean criminal record, prior prison disciplinary violations, positive program accomplishments and postrelease plans in denying his request for parole release (see Matter of Smith v New York State Div. of Parole, 81 AD3d 1026, 1026 [2011]; Matter of Gordon v New York State Bd. of Parole, 81 AD3d 1032, 1033 [2011]). While petitioner maintains that he was suffering from a mental defect at the time he committed the crimes, the Board also took into account the mental health assistance provided to him during his incarceration. Contrary to petitioner's claim, there is no indication that the Board discriminated against him based on his race. Therefore, as the Board considered the appropriate statutory factors and its decision does not exhibit " 'irrationality bordering on impropriety' " (Matter of Silmon v Travis, 95 NY2d 470, 476 [2000], quoting Matter of Russo v New York State Bd. of Parole, 50 NY2d 69, 77 [1980]), we find no reason to disturb it.
Spain, J.P., Rose, Stein, McCarthy and Garry, JJ., concur. Ordered that the judgment is affirmed, without costs.