Last April, the Atlanta Falcons traded their 2025 second-round pick and a 2026 first-round pick to move up to No. 26 to select James Pearce Jr., and his first 17 games made the move look brilliant. He led all NFL rookies with 10.5 sacks, the highest sack total for a rookie since Micah Parsons (13.0) in 2021. He helped Atlanta set a franchise record with 57 team sacks.
But off the field, he became a kind of liability for the franchise. On Feb. 7, police in Miami-Dade County arrested Pearce following analleged domestic dispute with his ex-girlfriend, Los Angeles Sparks forward Rickea Jackson. He now faces serious legal charges that threaten to derail his career.
Falcons James Pearce Jr. dodges major felony as aggravated battery charge dropped in Rickea Jackson case
Prosecutors initially charged Pearce with aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer that carried up to five years in prison. However, ithas since been dropped after prosecutors said body-camera footage did not provide enough evidence to prove it beyond a reasonable doubt.
Atlanta Falcons linebacker James Pearce Jr.
Dec 21, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Atlanta Falcons linebacker James Pearce Jr. (27) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
But the case against the 22-year-old is still ongoing. According to prosecutors, theWNBA star made at least seven 911 calls in the weeks before Pearce’s arrest, reporting stalking, threats, harassment, and concerns that he tried to enter her home without permission.
Authorities say Pearce later followed Jackson in his vehicle and caused a collision as she drove toward a police station. Police also allege he fled when officers confronted him, leading them on a chase before crashing at an intersection.
James Pearce Jr. is no longer facing a charge of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer after his alleged domestic dispute with Rickea Jackson, TMZ Sports has learned. https://t.co/b9fgTfzdT8 pic.twitter.com/FVvZlyjJr5
— TMZ (@TMZ) March 12, 2026
Jackson has since been granted a temporary protective order, telling the court she was “in fear of my life.” A hearing for a permanent injunction is scheduled for April 21, and the Falcon’s rookie has notified authorities she is willing to testify against him.
Now, the 22-year-old’s legal situation has shifted from initial arrest counts to formal charges brought by the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office. The three charges he is facing right now are aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing and eluding police, and resisting an officer with violence.
And as previously noted, the felony charge of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer was dropped due to insufficient body cam evidence.
His attorney maintains Pearce is innocent and says the current allegations don’t tell the full story. While the Falcons haven’t cut him yet, they are monitoring the situation. The NFL is also expected to step in once the legal case moves forward.