Falcons Linebacker James Pearce Jr. Faces Felony Charges After Alleged Domestic Dispute
By Leyah Jackson
Courtesy of Danny Karnik of Associated Press
Atlanta Falcons linebacker James Pearce Jr. was arrested last weekend after a domestic dispute with Los Angeles Sparks forward Rickea Jackson. Pearce faces five felony charges and one misdemeanor, including two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon as well as aggravated stalking and fleeing police.
Jackson told the police that she and Pearce had recently broken up after three years together, and claimed he was following her in his vehicle on Saturday. Pearce rear-ended her car as she was driving toward the Doral, Florida, Police Department.
Following this altercation, police attempted to apprehend Pearce, but he drove away, striking an officer in the knee in the process. Pearce was arrested after crashing his car at an intersection and fleeing on foot.
“I think professional athletes should be held to a higher standard than the general public because, though they are human too, they are representing an athletic team,” said Jayden Johnson, a first-year criminal justice major on the prelaw track.
According to the jail website, Pearce was released on bond set at $20,500 Sunday at the Turner Guilford, Knight Correctional Center. He was given a pre-trial stay-away order from Jackson.
Pearce is an NFL rookie who was selected by the Falcons in the first round of the 2025 draft. The Atlanta Falcons face troubling questions about the rookie’s future with the team. The Falcons said in a statement Saturday that they were “aware of the incident”.
“We are in the process of gathering more information and will not have any further comment on an open legal matter at this time,” the Falcons said.
“I don’t think the NFL will do anything because they don’t care. There have been other instances where NFL players abused women, and no significant consequences were given,” said Davione Alvis, first-year kinesiology major and band manager for HU Marching Force.
Jackson was selected by the Los Angeles Sparks as the fourth overall pick in 2024 and has since created a name for herself in the WNBA by averaging 14.7 points in 38 games in the 2025 season. According to ESPN, Rickea Jackson’s attorneys filed a court notice Tuesday in Miami-Dade (Florida) County saying that she is "willing to testify" against Atlanta Falcons player James Pearce Jr. if the domestic violence charges against him go to trial. Jackson is being represented by Gary F. Celetti and Wendy A.L. Beswick.
The attorneys wrote, "[Jackson] remains cooperative and willing to testify at trial, if one is necessary.”
Pearce’s attorneys maintain his innocence.
