Falcons' James Pearce Jr charged with 3 felonies after alleged incident involving WNBA's Rickea Jackson

Joel Klatt revealed his NFL Draft risers after the NFL combine. He explained why Ohio State LB Sonny Styles landed at the top of his list. Joel analyzed what made Indiana's Omar Cooper a riser in the NFL Draft after his performance at the combine.

Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr., a 2025 first-round pick, was charged with three felonies by the Miami-Dade (Florida) State Attorney from a Feb. 7 incident involving WNBA player Rickea Jackson. 

Court documents revealed Pearce was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing and eluding police and resisting an officer with violence to his or her person, all of which are felonies. 

A fourth charge of felony aggravated stalking was changed to a misdemeanor, while a charge of aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer was dropped. 

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Atlanta Falcons linebacker James Pearce Jr. warms up before a game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium Nov. 2, 2025. (Brian Fluharty/Imagn Images)

Pearce, a finalist for Defensive Rookie of the Year after a successful 2025 season with the Falcons, was arrested near Miami last month after allegedly fleeing officers and crashing his car after what police called a domestic violence incident with Jackson, a 2024 All-Rookie team honoree with the Los Angeles Sparks. 

Jackson was the fourth overall pick of the WNBA Draft out of Tennessee, and she has had early success in her career. 

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Pearce is alleged to have crashed his car into another vehicle being driven by Jackson and struck a police officer while he tried to flee law enforcement, ESPN reported,