James Pearce Jr. Enters Program That Could Drop Charges From Domestic Dispute Involving Rickea Jackson

Atlanta Falcons separator rusher James Pearce Jr. has entered into a pretrial involution programme that should consequence successful nan dismissal of each charges against him stemming from a home conflict involving his ex-girlfriend, erstwhile Sparks guardant Rickea Jackson.

Pearce is facing 3 felony charges from nan Florida State Attorney’s Office successful Miami-Dade County — aggravated artillery pinch a deadly weapon, fleeing and eluding police, and resisting an serviceman pinch unit — arsenic good arsenic a misdemeanor complaint of stalking.

“Mr. Pearce Jr. will beryllium entering a six-month diversion program,” 1 of Pearce’s attorneys, Jacob Nunez, said Thursday successful a connection provided to nan Associated Press. “Upon completion of nan six months without violation, nan authorities will disregard each felony and misdemeanor charges.”

Another lawyer for Pearce, Yale Sanford, confirmed to The Times that Pearce must enactment distant from Jackson and participate successful therapy arsenic requirements of nan six-month involution program.

“He is committed to gathering each conditions,” Nunez and Sanford said successful a associated statement. “James is focused connected moving forward, rejoining his teammates and nan Atlanta Falcons statement arsenic a whole, performing astatine nan highest level, and continuing to beryllium a squad subordinate connected and disconnected nan field.”

An NFL spokesperson told The Times that nan convention has been “closely monitoring each developments successful nan matter which remains nether reappraisal of nan individual behaviour policy.”

Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed connected April 8 that Pearce was not astatine nan believe installation for nan commencement of nan team’s voluntary offseason program. The squad did not instantly respond to a petition for comment.

Doral constabulary person described nan incident that led to Pearce’s apprehension arsenic a home dispute. Jackson said she was attempting to thrust distant from Pearce and activity help, according to nan constabulary account, erstwhile he “intentionally collided into nan rear of her conveyance pinch his SUV” earlier constabulary arrived.

Pearce allegedly refused an first bid from constabulary to “get connected nan floor,” according to nan apprehension affidavit, past drove distant and deed a constabulary officer’s near knee pinch his conveyance “intentionally successful an effort to evade arrest.”

“Mr. Pearce maintains his innocence and urges nan nationalist to understand that while allegations person nan powerfulness to style a narrative, that it is hardly nan full, complete story,” Nunez told nan Associated Press soon aft his arrest. “We look guardant to vigorously defending our client.”

Atlanta selected Pearce successful nan first information of nan 2025 NFL draught aft trading pinch nan Rams to move up to No. 26. He recorded 10.5 sacks and 26 tackles and vanished 3rd successful voting for protect rookie of nan year.

Jackson was selected by nan Sparks astatine No. 4 wide successful nan 2024 draft. She averaged 14 points a crippled and was traded to nan Chicago Sky for defender Ariel Atkins earlier this month.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.