Bartee Misses Parole

A former candidate for Oconee County sheriff did not get the needed two out of three votes needed for parole. James Bartee, who was imprisoned for trying to kidnap a judge, missed the first chance for parole when he faced the state parole board on Wednesday. According to Peter O’Boyle with the SC Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon service, Bartee would have been granted parole if the vote had been unanimous. But O’Boyle says the case will be referred to the full board of 7 members, where he will have to get 4 out of 7 votes. If Bartee is denied parole, his release date will be March 6, 2016. Bartee is currently being held at Livesay Correctional Institute in Spartanburg. The 57-year-old Bartee, a former U.S. Secret Service agent, was convicted in September 2013 of conspiracy to commit a felony and sentenced to 10 years in prison, suspended to 5 years to serve.