A candidate for Oconee County sheriff was arrested Wednesday after being accused of trying to arrange the kidnapping of a retired judge.

James Richard Bartee Jr., 54, of Seneca was charged by SLED with solicitation to commit a felony.

According to warrant issued by SLED, Bartee, a retired U.S. Secret Service agent, is accused of trying to arrange to have retired circuit Judge James C. Williams Jr. kidnapped.

The warrant said Bartee gave the individual money to buy the items needed to commit the kidnapping. Bartee’s actions were caught on an audio recording, the warrant said.

The Anderson Independent-Mail reports that

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