Prosecutors bring 3 felony charges
against Falcons' James Pearce Jr. in domestic dispute
[March 13, 2026]
By STEPHEN WHYNO
Prosecutors brought three felony charges against Atlanta Falcons
player James Pearce Jr. stemming from an incident on Feb. 7 that
police referred to as a domestic dispute with WNBA player and
ex-girlfriend Rickea Jackson, according to a court document filed
Thursday.
The Florida State Attorney's office in Miami-Dade County filed
charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing and
eluding police and resisting an officer with violence. A fourth
charge of stalking was brought as a misdemeanor.
An additional charge of aggravated battery of an officer was
dropped.
Lawyers for Pearce and Jackson did not immediately respond to
messages seeking comment. Pearce's attorney, Jacob Nunez, in
February said his client “maintains his innocence and urges the
public to understand that while allegations have the power to shape
a narrative, that it is hardly the full, complete story.”
According to the police account, Jackson told authorities she
attempted to drive away from Pearce and was driving toward the Doral
police station to seek help when Pearce “intentionally collided into
the rear of her vehicle with his SUV” before police arrived.
Pearce allegedly refused an initial order from police to “get on the
floor,” according to details of the arrest in an affidavit. The
police account said Pearce then drove away and hit a police
officer’s left knee with his vehicle “intentionally in an attempt to
evade arrest.”
According to police, Pearce wrecked his vehicle and then continued
in his attempt to elude police by running before being apprehended
following a “short struggle.”
Jackson in a petition for protection against Pearce filed in
February after she expressed fears for her safety that predated the
incident for which he was arrested and charged.
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“Due to his obsessive, insecure, violent and
aggressive behavior, ending the relationship has been difficult and
I am afraid for my life,” Jackson said in the petition filed in the
11th Judicial Circuit in Miami-Dade County. “James has threatened to
kill me, James has threatened to harm me, James has threatened to
injure me, James has threatened to place a bag over my head, and
James has verbally and physically abused.”
Jackson in the petition said Pearce snatched her phone, pulled her
hair and took her belongings, at which point she decided to end
their relationship.
She described a pattern of harassing behavior leading up to Feb. 7,
including Pearce offering her $75,000 to visit him and $200,000 to
remain in a relationship with him, according to the petition.
Jackson said she was driving when she noticed Pearce following her
in his car and she said he “began driving his vehicle erratically,
at high speeds chasing after me.”
Jackson said in the petition she began driving to the Doral Police
Department because she feared Pearce would hurt her. She said Pearce
repeatedly struck her vehicle with his before getting to the
station.
“I am in fear of my life and I believe, if this court does not
assist me with this issue, James will kill me,” Jackson said,
according to the documents.
Jackson, 24, is two years into her WNBA career. She said she and
Pearce began dating when they were at the University of Tennessee
together.
Pearce, 22, was the No. 26 pick in the NFL draft last year. He had
10 1/2 sacks and his 45 quarterback pressures set a Falcons rookie
record.
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