HOUSTON COUNTY, Ga. (WGXA) — A 59-year-old Perry man, Willis Jermaine Curry Jr., has been sentenced to 15 years in prison and banned from Houston County after pleading guilty to charges stemming from a high-speed police chase in June.
Curry, a seven-time convicted felon, admitted to stealing a 2023 Kia Sorento from the parking lot of a La Quinta Inn on Plaza Drive in Perry on June 18, 2025. The vehicle’s owner, a visitor from out of town, quickly reported it stolen, prompting a BOLO (Be On the Lookout) alert.
Using flock camera systems and Kia’s GPS tracking, law enforcement located the vehicle near Cross Point Baptist Church. As officers moved in, Curry reentered the SUV and fled, initiating a dangerous high-speed pursuit.
Authorities say Curry ran a red light, drove on the wrong side of the road, and weaved through traffic at speeds over 100 mph. Due to heavy traffic, Perry Police halted their pursuit and coordinated with the Houston County Sheriff’s Office, who picked up the chase on I-75 northbound.
The pursuit extended into Peach, Crawford, and Bibb counties, finally ending after a successful PIT maneuver by deputies near the Bibb–Crawford County line. Curry was arrested at the scene and found to be driving without a license.
On pleading guilty to Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer, Theft by Receiving Stolen Property, and Driving Without a License, Curry was sentenced to 20 years, with 15 to be served in prison and five on probation. He is also permanently prohibited from entering Houston County.
