94 Pa. Commw. 77 | Pa. Commw. Ct. | 1986
Opinion by
Jerry Fallings (Petitioner) appeals from an order of the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole (Board) recommitting him as a technical parole violator to serve eighteen (18) months backtime.
Petitioner was convicted on two counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance and sentenced to a term of two (2) to ten (10) years. On October 2, 1983, Petitioner was released on parole. On August 17; 1984, the Board, in response to requests from the 'Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office and the Harrisburg Police Department, imposed the following special condition 6 on Petitioner’s parole: “Do not associate with Jonathon Blackstone. In addition, you are not to engage in any type of conduct toward Mr. Blackstone that threatens his personal safety or well-being.”
Petitioner alleges two errors on this appeal: that Petitioner was denied due process at his preliminary hearing because hearsay evidence, submitted over defense counsel’s objection, was the sole basis of the hearing examiner’s recommendation to hold Petitioner for a violation hearing; and that the evidence presented to the Board at the violation hearing was insufficient to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that Petitioner violated special condition 6.
This Court’s scope of review of a recommitment order of the Board is limited to determining whether necessary findings are supported by substantial evidence, whether the Board committed an error of law, and whether the parolee’s constitutional rights were violated. Section 704 of the Administrative Agency Law, 2 Pa. C. S. §704; Coades v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, 84 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 484, 480 A.2d 1298 (1984).
Petitioner asserts that he was denied due process because hearsay evidence was admitted over objection at his preliminary hearing without good cause. Petitioner relies upon 37 Pa. Code §71.2(16) which states:
(16) The representatives of the Board who are familiar with the facts which constitute the alleged violation will be present to testify as*80 shall any persons upon whose testimony the alleged violations are based, unless the Board or its designated Examiner has specifically found good grounds for not allowing confrontation.
Reliance' on this section, however, is misplaced. Section 71.2(16) governs the procedure to be used at violation hearings, not preliminary hearings. The procedures for preliminary hearings are- set forth separately ' from those pertaining to violation hearings, and are found at 37 Pa. Code §§71.2(1)-(10).
That on his request, persons who have given adverse information on which the parole revocation is to be based will be made available for questioning in his presence, unless the hearing officer specifically finds good cause for not allowing confrontation. (Emphasis added.)
Absent a request to question an adverse witness in ■person at a preliminary hearing, a parolee cannot later object to- affidavit testimony presented at that hearing. Section 71.2(6) supports this reasoning. That section states:
Representatives of the Board, who are familiar with the facts which constitute the alleged violation,- will be present to testify as shall, upon request of the parolee, any persons upon whose testimony the alleged . violations are based. (Emphasis added.)
The- Board sent Petitioner -a Notice of Charges and Hearing advising him of Blackstone’s allegations .and, on its reverse side, outlining the procedures he. was to follow if he desired to have adverse parties available for questioning at the preliminary hearing.
We also note that a preliminary hearing in a parole violation setting is held strictly for the purpose of determining whether there is probable cause to believe the parolee has committed a parole violation, and if so, to hold him or her for a full violation hearing. See 37 Pa. Code §71.2(1) (vi). The use of an affidavit at a preliminary hearing is permissible when tha parolee has not requested the presence of that witness.’ Because Blaekstone actually testified at Petitioner’s violation hearing, we find Petitioner’s assertion that he was denied due process to be without merit.
In support of his second argument, that the evidence is insufficient to prove a violation of condition 6, Petitioner asserts that any inconsistencies in his witnesses’ testimony, were trivial and irrelevant, and that the testimony should have been accepted as credible. He further argues that even if he had engaged in the alleged misconduct, it was insufficient grounds to find that he had threatened the personal safety or well-being of Blaekstone.
Our review of the whole record, however, compels the conclusion that substantial evidence supports the Board’s findings. The testimony of Blaekstone supports the finding that Petitioner violated special condition 6. We see no reason to disturb that finding.
The fact that there is conflicting evidence in the record does not mean that the Board’s findings are to be disturbed on appeal. Chapman v. Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, 86 Pa. Commonwealth
Petitioner argues that, even assuming the meeting had occurred between the parties, the conduct was insufficient to violate special condition 6. We disagree. That condition plainly forbids any association with Blackstone, not just conduct threatening the personal safety and well-being of Blackstone. The Board’s conclusion that Petitioner violated special condition 6 is therefore correct.
Accordingly, we affirm the Board’s order recommitting Petitioner for a period of 18 months backtime as a technical parole violator.
Order
And Now, January 7, 1986, the order of the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole at Parole No. 9824-Gr, dated January 26,1985, is hereby affirmed.
This condition was imposed because Blackstone was a prosecution witness in the trial of Petitioner’s son for murder.
The pertinent provision stated: “Upon your request,- prior to the hearing, persons who have given adverse information on which
