A second parole chance for James Bartee

Perhaps, for James Bartee, the second time will be the charm.  The one-time candidate for Oconee Sheriff failed last week in his attempt to win parole from a board of three members of the state Probation, Parole and Pardon Services.  He needed two out of three votes, but fell short.  Bartee now awaits a second hearing next month when he’ll make his case for freedom in front of the entire seven-member board.  There, he will need four votes to gain an early release.  Pete O’Boyle, spokesman for the parole board, said if Bartee fails to win parole September 23, it’s back to prison until his scheduled March 6, 2016 release date.  Bartee was convicted in 2013 of solicitation to commit a felony, as part of a plot to kidnap a judge who was hearing a challenge to Bartee’s qualifications to remain on the ballot for the office that was eventually won by Mike Crenshaw.