The NFL are ‘closely monitoring all developments’ surrounding Atlanta Falcons star James Pearce Jr, following a major twist to his ongoing legal battles.
A state attorney in Florida brought four charges against the Falcons star over an alleged incident involving his ex-girlfriend, WNBA player Rickea Jackson, last month.
The 22-year-old is accused of following Jackson’s car and ramming his Lamborghini SUV into it several times as she drove to the police station in Doral, Florida.
Pearce is facing three felony charges: aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing and eluding police, and resisting an officer with violence to his or her person.
Pearce – who last year signed a $16.8million contract with Atlanta – also faces a charge of aggravated stalking.
On Thursday, however, it was revealed that Pearce had entered into a six-month pre-trial intervention program that, if conditions are met, will result in all charges being dismissed, according to NFL Insider Ian Rapoport.
The NFL are ‘closely monitoring all developments’ surrounding Falcons star James Pearce Jr
Pearce Jr faces four charges over an alleged incident involving WNBA player Rickea Jackson
Pearce’s case will reportedly be put on hold while he completes the pre-trial intervention. The agreement was made in consultation with Rickea Jackson.
Should he complete the Florida state program, which will include therapy and staying out of trouble for six months, Pearce will have all his charges dismissed.
Though he has not been suspended by either the Falcons or the NFL, Pearce has not been training with the team amid the ongoing case and was not present at their voluntary offseason program which began at the start of the month.
According to arrest records, Pearce fled the scene after being confronted by police. He is then said to have crashed his car at an intersection before attempting to run away on foot. Remarkable images emerged on social media shortly after, showing six police officers pinning Pearce to the ground while trying to detain him.
Pearce and Jackson – who plays for the Los Angeles Sparks – reportedly dated for around three years, only to separate shortly before the alleged incident. She filed for a protective order in February, with the WNBA star telling a court that she ‘feared for her life.’
In court documents, seen by the Daily Mail, which were filed two days after Pearce Jr’s arrest, Jackson wrote that Pearce ‘verbally and physically abused me on more than one occasion.’ He was also accused of threatening to kill her and place a bag over her head, according to the court filing.
The Los Angeles Sparks basketball star said that she believed ‘James will kill me’ if the court didn’t intervene, and she was granted a temporary injunction.
A hearing for a permanent injunction is scheduled for this month, but Pearce Jr is currently under order to not have any contact with Jackson, nor go within 500 feet of her home or place of employment, or within 100 feet of her vehicle.
Jackson has been granted a temporary restraining order against ex-boyfriend Pearce Jr
WNBA star Jackson (second left) was pictured alongside Pearce Jr at the NFL Draft last year
In the court documents, Jackson also alleges that Pearce Jr ‘became violent’ with her in January in a public dispute at a gas station after believing she had cheated on him with another man.
Jackson wrote that he ‘attacked me by snatching my cellular phone out of my hand, pulling my hair, and taking my personal belongings.’ She alleges that she broke up with him shortly after, only for him to go on a ‘never-ending campaign of threats, physical assaults and abuse against me’, even ‘sleeping in his vehicle outside my house’.
In a separate police report, Jackson detailed to cops her heightening fears that she was being stalked and harassed, and that she believed Pearce had tried to break into her apartment.
More to follow…
