Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. has entered a six-month pretrial intervention program that, if completed successfully, will result in the dismissal of all charges against him. The charges stem from a domestic dispute involving his ex-girlfriend, WNBA star Rickea Jackson, and include three felonies (aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing and eluding police, and resisting an officer with violence) and a misdemeanor stalking charge.
Key Terms of the Program
Under the program, Pearce must avoid contact with Jackson, undergo therapy, and submit to random drug tests. His attorneys, Jacob Nunez and Yale Sanford, confirmed his commitment to meeting all conditions. The Florida State Attorney’s Office stated that Jackson and law enforcement officers consented to the pretrial intervention as the best resolution. A court appearance is scheduled to finalize the details.
NFL and Team Response
The NFL confirmed it is monitoring the case under its personal conduct policy. Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski noted Pearce was absent from the team’s voluntary offseason program. The team has not yet commented on the matter.
Background of the Incident
The incident occurred in February 2024 in Doral, Florida, where police described it as a domestic dispute. Jackson has previously expressed fear for her safety and requested a protective order against Pearce. The state attorney’s office noted that Pearce’s lack of prior criminal history and the context of a mental health crisis were considered in the decision.