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04/23 13:09 CDT Falcons' James Pearce Jr. agrees to enter pretrial intervention
program to resolve 3 felony charges
Falcons' James Pearce Jr. agrees to enter pretrial intervention program to
resolve 3 felony charges
By CHARLES ODUM
AP Sports Writer
ATLANTA (AP) --- Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. has agreed to
enter a pretrial intervention program which his attorneys say will allow him to
resolve three felony charges stemming from what police called a domestic
dispute on Feb. 7 with his ex-girlfriend Rickea Jackson, a WNBA player.
"Mr. Pearce Jr. will be entering a six-month diversion program. Upon completion
of the six months without violation, the state will dismiss all felony and
misdemeanor charges," one of Pearce's attorneys, Jacob Nunez, said Thursday in
a statement provided to The Associated Press.
"James is focused on moving forward, rejoining his teammates and the Atlanta
Falcons organization as a whole, performing at the highest level, and
continuing to be a team player on and off the field," Nunez and another
attorney, Yale Sanford, said in another statement.
The Falcons did not immediately respond to an inquiry about Pearce's status
with the team.
Atlanta's WSB-TV first reported the agreement for Pearce to enter the
intervention program.
The resolution came on the opening day of the NFL draft, one year after the
Falcons made Pearce the No. 26 pick in the 2025 draft. Pearce led Atlanta with
10 1/2 sacks. His 45 quarterback pressures set a Falcons rookie record.
The felony charges, however, have left his status with the team uncertain.
First-year coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed on April 8 Pearce was not at the
practice facility for the start of the team's voluntary offseason program.
General manager Ian Cunningham said Monday there was no update on Pearce.
"Everything is status quo," Cunningham said.
On March 13, the Florida State Attorney's Office in Miami-Dade County filed
charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing and eluding police
and resisting an officer with violence. A fourth charge of stalking was brought
as a misdemeanor.
An additional charge of aggravated battery of an officer was dropped.
According to the police account, Jackson told authorities she attempted to
drive away from Pearce and was driving toward the Doral police station to seek
help when Pearce "intentionally collided into the rear of her vehicle with his
SUV" before police arrived.
Pearce allegedly refused an initial order from police to "get on the floor,"
according to details of the arrest in an affidavit. The police account said
Pearce then drove away and hit a police officer's left knee with his vehicle
"intentionally in an attempt to evade arrest."
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
