NFL star James Pearce Jr. faces legal fallout after a domestic incident, with a judge ordering him to stay away from WNBA player Rickea Jackson.
An NFL player with ties to a WNBA star is now facing serious legal trouble, with a court ordering him to have no contact with her.
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. was arrested Saturday in South Florida following an alleged domestic incident involving his girlfriend, Rickea Jackson, a standout for the Los Angeles Sparks.
According to police reports and statements from Miami-Dade authorities, Pearce was taken into custody on multiple charges, including two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated stalking, and fleeing or eluding police.
Law enforcement officials said Pearce fled the scene of the alleged dispute and was later involved in a crash before being arrested near Northwest 103rd Avenue and 66th Street.
Pearce, 23, was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center and appeared in Miami-Dade bond court via Zoom on Sunday. During the hearing, Circuit Judge Jacqueline Woodward issued a pre-trial domestic violence stay-away order, instructing Pearce to have no contact with Jackson and to remain at least 500 feet away from her residence.
“You may not have any contact with Miss Jackson,” Judge Woodward told Pearce during the proceedings.
The court set Pearce’s total bond at approximately $20,000, combining charges related to the alleged domestic incident and the fleeing and eluding case. Pearce later posted bond and was released. His attorney indicated that he plans to return to Atlanta and would not retrieve any belongings from the Miami-Dade property involved in the case.
Pearce was selected by the Atlanta Falcons with the No. 26 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft after the team traded up in the first round. He is coming off a strong rookie season, recording 10.5 sacks, the most among rookies, and finishing as the runner-up for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
The Falcons acknowledged the situation in a brief statement, saying the organization is aware of the incident and is gathering information but will not comment further while the legal process is ongoing.
No further statements have been made publicly by Jackson or representatives for the Sparks. The case remains under investigation, and the stay-away order will remain in effect as the legal proceedings continue.