Falcons' James Pearce Jr charged with 3 felonies after alleged incident involving WNBA's Rickea Jackson

Atlanta Falcons borderline rusher James Pearce Jr., a 2025 first-round pick, was charged with 3 felonies by the Miami-Dade (Florida) State Attorney from a Feb. 7 incidental involving WNBA subordinate Rickea Jackson. 

Court documents revealed Pearce was charged with aggravated artillery with a deadly weapon, fleeing and eluding constabulary and resisting an serviceman with unit to his oregon her person, each of which are felonies. 

A 4th complaint of felony aggravated stalking was changed to a misdemeanor, portion a complaint of aggravated artillery of a instrumentality enforcement serviceman was dropped. 

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Atlanta Falcons linebacker James Pearce Jr. warms up earlier a crippled against the New England Patriots astatine Gillette Stadium Nov. 2, 2025. (Brian Fluharty/Imagn Images)

Pearce, a finalist for Defensive Rookie of the Year aft a palmy 2025 play with the Falcons, was arrested adjacent Miami past period aft allegedly fleeing officers and crashing his car aft what constabulary called a home unit incidental with Jackson, a 2024 All-Rookie squad honoree with the Los Angeles Sparks. 

Jackson was the 4th wide prime of the WNBA Draft retired of Tennessee, and she has had aboriginal occurrence successful her career. 

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Pearce is alleged to person crashed his car into different conveyance being driven by Jackson and struck a constabulary serviceman portion helium tried to fly instrumentality enforcement, ESPN reported, citing a transgression ailment from the Miami-Dad State Attorney’s office. 

Jackson told constabulary she noticed Pearce was pursuing her successful a achromatic luxury vehicle, and erstwhile she stopped astatine a reddish light, the Falcons rookie tried to unfastened her car. Jackson said she started to thrust toward the Doral Police Department portion Pearce was allegedly pursuing her. Then, arsenic she got person to the constabulary station, she alleged Pearce chopped her disconnected and collided with her caput on.  

An serviceman reportedly pulled a weapon connected Pearce erstwhile Doral authorities responded to the incidental successful an effort to unit him to get connected the ground. However, helium allegedly got backmost into his car and drove away. 

After crashing his conveyance and being accused of resisting arrest, Pearce spent a nighttime successful jailhouse earlier posting a $20,500 enslaved and being released connected Feb. 8. 

Atlanta Falcons linebacker James Pearce Jr. against the Arizona Cardinals astatine State Farm Stadium Dec. 21, 2025. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)

Jackson has since filed an injunction for a protective bid against Pearce successful Miami-Dade County. She wrote that she was successful fearfulness for her life, and if the tribunal didn’t intervene, "James volition termination me."

Jackson besides alleged erstwhile verbal and carnal maltreatment from Pearce occurred "on much than 1 occasion." She claimed helium threatened to kill, harm and injure her, according to tribunal documents. 

Pearce's attorneys said past period their lawsuit "maintains his innocence and urges the nationalist to recognize that portion allegations person the powerfulness to signifier a narrative, that it is hardly the full, implicit story."

"We look guardant to vigorously defending our lawsuit and stay assured that helium volition proceed contributing positively to some his squad and the assemblage helium serves truthful well," the attorneys added astatine the time. 

Atlanta Falcons linebacker James Pearce Jr. is interviewed aft a crippled against the New Orleans Saints Jan. 4, 2026, successful Atlanta.  (AP Photo/Danny Karnik, File)

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A imperishable injunction proceeding is scheduled for April 21 aft the tribunal initially granted Jackson her petition for protection. Pearce is not allowed to person interaction with Jackson oregon beryllium wrong 500 feet of her location oregon spot of employment oregon 100 feet from her vehicle. 

Pearce played each 17 games for the Falcons, racking up 10½ sacks, 26 combined tackles and 5 passes defended. 

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