Third suspect in string of car burglaries sentenced

BY VALERIE REDDELL Editor polknews@gmail.com

LIVINGSTON — Olivia Nicole Bartee, 22, of Houston was sentenced to 10 years in prison by Judge Elizabeth Coker during a hearing in the 258th District Court last week for engaging in organized criminal activity and one year in the county jail for burglary of a vehicle, according to First Assistant District Attorney Joe Martin. The charges stemmed from Bartee’s role in a rash of car burglaries from the summer of 2010 until March 3, 2010, Bartee was recruited by Eric Alen Parker, 33, and Bridgette Monique Harrison, 34, a husband and wife team of crooks who committed “smash and grab” car burglaries local nursing homes, churches and the hospital. The crime spree came to an end on March 2, 2011, after the trio broke out the window of a car at First Baptist Church, stole a wallet and used a credit card for a gas purchase and an ATM withdrawal. They then burglarized a car at Timberwood Nursing Home and proceeded to CVS pharmacy where Bartee used the credit card from the first theft to buy about $500 in gift cards. While the burglars were at CVS, the victim discovered the burglary in the church parking lot. While speaking with police, the victim used a mobile device to determine his card was being used at CVS. Livingston Police Officers Rob Atkins, Scott Paske and Jason Thomas obtained a surveillance photo of Bartee from CVS and proceeded to Wal- Mart where they found her in line waiting to purchase additional gift cards with the card taken from the nursing home. Immediately after taking Bartee into custody they were able to arrest the other two suspects in their rented vehicle waiting for Bartee. Prior to their arrest in Livingston, Eric Parker had been arrested on 17 separate offenses, each resulting in very short sentences. Harrison had been arrested for 19 charges and was sent to state jail for sentences of a few months on 10 cases. Both had cases pending in Harris County when they were arrested here in 2011. Bartee was originally granted probation in February 2011 on the condition that she appear at Parker’s trial on April 2, 2012. “But she failed to show up and testify,” Martin said. “Thanks to some good detective work by our investigators, they went down to Harris County and snatched her up.” Polk County officials took her in custody they said she was eight months pregnant and tested positive for PCP and marijuana. “She admitted smoking a marijuana cigarette laced with PCP,” Martin said. Those test results prompted Coker to revoke her probation and keep her in jail until the baby was born. The child seems to have suffered no ill effects and has since been placed for adoption, Martin said. “When she was asked if she had a problem with drugs, she said no, she didn’t. She just enjoys getting high,” Martin said. “This was the second pregnancy during which she has tested positive for PCP,” Martin said. “According to her, Harris County has terminated her rights to her other children as well … which was probably a long time coming.” Parker is serving a 20 year sentence for the Polk County charges. Harris pleaded guilty in exchange for a five year sentence out of a possible 10 years.