Repeat DUI Offender Sent to Prison for Ten Years

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s DUI Unit obtained a ten-year sentence against a man with fourteen prior DUI convictions in five jurisdictions. Larry Ray Perryman, 64, was convicted of Driving Under the Influence, Sixth or Subsequent Offense. At a sentencing hearing today, Judge Steve Sword ordered Perryman to serve ten years in prison.

Assistant District Attorneys Joe Welker and Danielle Jones explained to the Court that on July 9, 2016, Knoxville Police Department Sergeant Nate Skellenger observed Perryman driving on Beaumont Avenue when he crossed over the double yellow lines. Perryman smelled of alcohol, slurred his speech, and failed field sobriety tests. Officers contacted the District Attorney’s Office to help with the preparation of a search warrant to determine the alcohol content of Perryman’s blood. A toxicology examination conducted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation revealed Perryman’s blood alcohol content to be 0.197, over twice the legal limit.

Perryman has been declared a Habitual Motor Vehicle Offender making it a felony for him to operate a motor vehicle. His fourteen prior DUI convictions date back to 1984 starting in Indiana before moving to Cocke, Sevier, Anderson, and Knox Counties.

If you have any questions, please contact Sean McDermott at 865-215-2515 or Sean.McDermott@knoxcounty.org. For more information about the District Attorney’s Office, visit our website at dag.knoxcountytn.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.