STATE OF LOUISIANA
COURT OF APPEAL
FIRST CIRCUIT
2020 CA 0817
TROY D. GRIMES # 308854
J VERSUS
LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONS
Judgment Rendered APR 2 6 2021
APPEALED FROM THE NINETEENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
IN AND FOR THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE
DOCKET NUMBER 678064, SECTION 24
HONORABLE DONALD R. JOHNSON, JUDGE
Troy D. Grimes Plaintiff/Appellant Cottonport, Louisiana Pro Se
Jonathan R. Vining Attorney for Defendant/ Appellee Baton Rouge, Louisiana Louisiana Department of Public
Safety and Corrections
BEFORE: WDONALD, HOLDRIDGE, and PENZATO, JJ. McDonald, J.
In this case an inmate in the custody of the Louisiana Department of Public
Safety and Corrections ( DPSC), Troy D. Grimes, appeals a judgment of the trial
court dismissing his petition for judicial review with prejudice. After review, we
affirm.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On September 13, 2018, Mr. Grimes was put into investigative segregation,
pending an investigation into accusations of a disciplinary infraction. During the
investigation, two confidential informants stated that Mr. Grimes had possession of
a cell phone that he used to arrange for drugs to be brought into the Raymond
Laborde Correctional Center ( RLCC) through various offenders during visitation.
After the investigation was completed, the matter proceeded to a disciplinary
hearing. Mr. Grimes was found guilty of general prohibited behavior, a violation of
Rule 30C. Rule 30C prohibits " threatening, planning, conspiring or attempting to
commit a violation of the rules of behavior for adult offenders or state and federal
laws, aiding or abetting another offender involved in committing a violation of the
rules or state and federal lawsJJ" LAC Title 22, Part 1, § 341. For this violation,
Mr. Grimes was sanctioned to 30 days of forfeiture of good time and loss of four
weeks of yard privileges.
Mr. Grimes filed an appeal ( number RLCC- 2018- 165) of the disciplinary
board' s decision with the Warden. The Warden denied the appeal. The Warden
found that an investigation verified the accusation, and that Mr. Grimes presented
no evidence other than denying the report as written. The Warden further found that
the sanctions imposed were allowed and were warranted for the rule violation.
Thereafter, Mr. Grimes filed an appeal with the Secretary of the DPSC. The appeal
was denied.
9 Mr. Grimes then filed a petition for judicial review in the Nineteenth Judicial
District Court. The Commissioner reviewed the case, determined that the penalty
was authorized by the DPSC' s promulgated rules for a Schedule B violation, and
determined that Mr. Grimes failed to allege specific facts to show that his discipline
was arbitrary, capricious, or in violation of a constitutional right! The
Commissioner recommended that the trial court affirm the decision and dismiss Mr.
Grimes' s appeal with prejudice. After a de novo review, the trial court adopted the
reasons of the Commissioner as its own, affirmed the DPSC' s decision, and
dismissed the petition for judicial review with prejudice. Mr. Grimes has appealed
that judgment.
DISCUSSION
On appeal, Mr. Grimes maintains that prison officials prejudiced his
substantial rights in forfeiting 30 days of his good time credit by not following
procedural guidelines and not rendering adequate due process. Specifically, he
maintains that the original disciplinary report did not contain information to satisfy
the notice requirement; that he was entitled to present witness testimony; that he was
entitled to copies of investigative and confidential informant reports; that
disciplinary and investigative reports should have included the date, time, and place
of the alleged offense; that the statements of two confidential informants did not
provide sufficient evidence for the finding of guilt; that there was not sufficient
evidence to find him guilty; and that he did not receive adequate due process.
Louisiana Revised Statutes 15: 1177( A)(9) sets forth the appropriate standard
of review by the district court, which functions as an appellate court when reviewing
the Department' s administrative decisions. Specifically, the court may reverse or
l The office of Commissioner of the Nineteenth Judicial District Court was created by La. R.S. 13: 711 to hear and recommend disposition of criminal and civil proceedings arising out of the incarceration of state prisoners. La. R.S. 13: 713( A). The Commissioner' s written findings and recommendations are submitted
to a district court judge, who may accept, reject, or modify them. See La. R.S. 13: 713( C)( 5).
3 modify the administrative decision only if substantial rights of the appellant have
been prejudiced because the administrative findings are: ( 1) in violation of
constitutional or statutory law; ( 2) in excess of the statutory authority of the agency;
3) made upon unlawful procedure; ( 4) affected by other error of law; ( 5) arbitrary,
capricious, or characterized by an abuse of discretion; or (6) manifestly erroneous in
view of the reliable, probative, and substantial evidence on the whole record. La.
R. S. 15: 1177( A)(9); Lightfoot v. Stalder, 2000- 1120 ( La. App. 1 Cir. 6/ 22/ 01), 808
So. 2d 710, 715- 716, writ denied, 2001- 2295 ( La. 8/ 30/ 02), 823 So. 2d 957; Grayer
v. Louisiana Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections, 2017- 0497 ( La. App. 1 Cir.
1/ 30/ 18), 242 So. 3d 592, 594.
On review of the district court' s judgment in a suit for judicial review under
La. R.S. 15: 1177, no deference is owed by the court of appeal to the factual findings
or legal conclusions of the district court, just as no deference is owed by the
Louisiana Supreme Court to factual findings or legal conclusions of the court
of appeal. New v. Louisiana Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections, 2015- 1160
La. App. 1 Cir. 2/ 24/ 16), 190 So.3d 345, 349.
The record shows that Mr. Grimes' s signature is found on the original
disciplinary report, confirming that he was advised ofthe charges against him at least
24 hours prior to the hearing. Mr. Grimes was given a hearing where he was advised
of his rights, was represented by substitute counsel, was read the charges against
him, was allowed to face and question his accuser, Lt. Col. Craig Laborde ( who
conducted the investigation into the charges), and was allowed to raise motions. His
motion to present witnesses was denied, as it was determined the anticipated
testimony would be repetitive.
Louisiana Administrative Code, Title 22, Part 1, § 34 1 ( G)( 4)( n), provides that:
In situations where the disciplinary report is based on a single confidential informant, there must be other evidence to corroborate the violation. That evidence may include, but is not limited to, testimony
4 from another confidential informant, the record ( investigative report) or other evidence. Whenever information is provided by confidential informants, the informant must be certified as having provided reliable information in the past ( and have legitimate knowledge of the present incident( s)).
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STATE OF LOUISIANA
COURT OF APPEAL
FIRST CIRCUIT
2020 CA 0817
TROY D. GRIMES # 308854
J VERSUS
LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONS
Judgment Rendered APR 2 6 2021
APPEALED FROM THE NINETEENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
IN AND FOR THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE
DOCKET NUMBER 678064, SECTION 24
HONORABLE DONALD R. JOHNSON, JUDGE
Troy D. Grimes Plaintiff/Appellant Cottonport, Louisiana Pro Se
Jonathan R. Vining Attorney for Defendant/ Appellee Baton Rouge, Louisiana Louisiana Department of Public
Safety and Corrections
BEFORE: WDONALD, HOLDRIDGE, and PENZATO, JJ. McDonald, J.
In this case an inmate in the custody of the Louisiana Department of Public
Safety and Corrections ( DPSC), Troy D. Grimes, appeals a judgment of the trial
court dismissing his petition for judicial review with prejudice. After review, we
affirm.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On September 13, 2018, Mr. Grimes was put into investigative segregation,
pending an investigation into accusations of a disciplinary infraction. During the
investigation, two confidential informants stated that Mr. Grimes had possession of
a cell phone that he used to arrange for drugs to be brought into the Raymond
Laborde Correctional Center ( RLCC) through various offenders during visitation.
After the investigation was completed, the matter proceeded to a disciplinary
hearing. Mr. Grimes was found guilty of general prohibited behavior, a violation of
Rule 30C. Rule 30C prohibits " threatening, planning, conspiring or attempting to
commit a violation of the rules of behavior for adult offenders or state and federal
laws, aiding or abetting another offender involved in committing a violation of the
rules or state and federal lawsJJ" LAC Title 22, Part 1, § 341. For this violation,
Mr. Grimes was sanctioned to 30 days of forfeiture of good time and loss of four
weeks of yard privileges.
Mr. Grimes filed an appeal ( number RLCC- 2018- 165) of the disciplinary
board' s decision with the Warden. The Warden denied the appeal. The Warden
found that an investigation verified the accusation, and that Mr. Grimes presented
no evidence other than denying the report as written. The Warden further found that
the sanctions imposed were allowed and were warranted for the rule violation.
Thereafter, Mr. Grimes filed an appeal with the Secretary of the DPSC. The appeal
was denied.
9 Mr. Grimes then filed a petition for judicial review in the Nineteenth Judicial
District Court. The Commissioner reviewed the case, determined that the penalty
was authorized by the DPSC' s promulgated rules for a Schedule B violation, and
determined that Mr. Grimes failed to allege specific facts to show that his discipline
was arbitrary, capricious, or in violation of a constitutional right! The
Commissioner recommended that the trial court affirm the decision and dismiss Mr.
Grimes' s appeal with prejudice. After a de novo review, the trial court adopted the
reasons of the Commissioner as its own, affirmed the DPSC' s decision, and
dismissed the petition for judicial review with prejudice. Mr. Grimes has appealed
that judgment.
DISCUSSION
On appeal, Mr. Grimes maintains that prison officials prejudiced his
substantial rights in forfeiting 30 days of his good time credit by not following
procedural guidelines and not rendering adequate due process. Specifically, he
maintains that the original disciplinary report did not contain information to satisfy
the notice requirement; that he was entitled to present witness testimony; that he was
entitled to copies of investigative and confidential informant reports; that
disciplinary and investigative reports should have included the date, time, and place
of the alleged offense; that the statements of two confidential informants did not
provide sufficient evidence for the finding of guilt; that there was not sufficient
evidence to find him guilty; and that he did not receive adequate due process.
Louisiana Revised Statutes 15: 1177( A)(9) sets forth the appropriate standard
of review by the district court, which functions as an appellate court when reviewing
the Department' s administrative decisions. Specifically, the court may reverse or
l The office of Commissioner of the Nineteenth Judicial District Court was created by La. R.S. 13: 711 to hear and recommend disposition of criminal and civil proceedings arising out of the incarceration of state prisoners. La. R.S. 13: 713( A). The Commissioner' s written findings and recommendations are submitted
to a district court judge, who may accept, reject, or modify them. See La. R.S. 13: 713( C)( 5).
3 modify the administrative decision only if substantial rights of the appellant have
been prejudiced because the administrative findings are: ( 1) in violation of
constitutional or statutory law; ( 2) in excess of the statutory authority of the agency;
3) made upon unlawful procedure; ( 4) affected by other error of law; ( 5) arbitrary,
capricious, or characterized by an abuse of discretion; or (6) manifestly erroneous in
view of the reliable, probative, and substantial evidence on the whole record. La.
R. S. 15: 1177( A)(9); Lightfoot v. Stalder, 2000- 1120 ( La. App. 1 Cir. 6/ 22/ 01), 808
So. 2d 710, 715- 716, writ denied, 2001- 2295 ( La. 8/ 30/ 02), 823 So. 2d 957; Grayer
v. Louisiana Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections, 2017- 0497 ( La. App. 1 Cir.
1/ 30/ 18), 242 So. 3d 592, 594.
On review of the district court' s judgment in a suit for judicial review under
La. R.S. 15: 1177, no deference is owed by the court of appeal to the factual findings
or legal conclusions of the district court, just as no deference is owed by the
Louisiana Supreme Court to factual findings or legal conclusions of the court
of appeal. New v. Louisiana Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections, 2015- 1160
La. App. 1 Cir. 2/ 24/ 16), 190 So.3d 345, 349.
The record shows that Mr. Grimes' s signature is found on the original
disciplinary report, confirming that he was advised ofthe charges against him at least
24 hours prior to the hearing. Mr. Grimes was given a hearing where he was advised
of his rights, was represented by substitute counsel, was read the charges against
him, was allowed to face and question his accuser, Lt. Col. Craig Laborde ( who
conducted the investigation into the charges), and was allowed to raise motions. His
motion to present witnesses was denied, as it was determined the anticipated
testimony would be repetitive.
Louisiana Administrative Code, Title 22, Part 1, § 34 1 ( G)( 4)( n), provides that:
In situations where the disciplinary report is based on a single confidential informant, there must be other evidence to corroborate the violation. That evidence may include, but is not limited to, testimony
4 from another confidential informant, the record ( investigative report) or other evidence. Whenever information is provided by confidential informants, the informant must be certified as having provided reliable information in the past ( and have legitimate knowledge of the present incident( s)). If requested, the accusing employee must be summoned to testify about the reliability and credibility of the confidential informant(s) when the disciplinary report is based solely on information provided by confidential informants. i. All confidential information used in the disciplinary process shall be documented on the confidential informant testimony and certification form. Lt. Col. Laborde was questioned about the veracity of the confidential
informants, and he testified regarding the reliability and credibility of the
confidential informants, in accordance with LAC Title 22, Part 1, § 341. The record
contains the required CONFIDENTIAL INFORMANT TESTIMONY AND
CERTIFICATION sheets signed by Lt. Col. Laborde. The record shows that a
confidential informant notified Lt. Col. Laborde on September 24, 2018, that Mr.
Grimes had a cellphone, stored it in his locker, and used it to arrange for drugs to be
brought into RLCC. The second confidential informant notified Lt. Col. Laborde on
September 25, 2018, that Mr. Grimes had a cellphone and allowed certain offenders
to use it to get suboxone strips into RLCC. The informant stated that he asked to
use Mr. Grimes' s cellphone, and that he observed Mr. Grimes using the cellphone.
While the record does not contain the exact date and time of the offenses charged,
we note that to provide the exact date, time, and place of the offenses could give
away the identity of the confidential informants.
CONCLUSION
After thorough review, we find no error of law, and we cannot say that the
administrative findings were arbitrary, capricious, characterized by an abuse of
discretion, or manifestly erroneous in view of the reliable, probative, and substantial
evidence on the record. See La. R.S. 15: 1177( A)(9).
5 DECREE
For the foregoing reasons, the trial court judgment, dismissing the petition for
judicial review with prejudice, is affirmed. Costs of the appeal are assessed against
the appellant, Troy D. Grimes.
AFFIRMED.