ATLANTA — The legal professional for Atlanta Falcons rookie James Pearce Jr. says Pearce “maintains his innocence” as he faces 5 felony prices following his arrest close to Miami on Saturday evening.
Pearce’s prices embody fleeing police after what Doral police mentioned was a home dispute with WNBA participant Rickea Jackson. Pearce was arrested after crashing his automobile. His prices embody two counts of aggravated battery with a lethal weapon and aggravated stalking.
Pearce posted bond of $20,500 Sunday on the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Middle.
“We stay up for working with the State Legal professional’s workplace in totally investigating this case and uncovering the reality,” Pearce’s legal professional, Jacob Nunez, mentioned in a press release launched to The Related Press on Monday.
“Mr. Pearce maintains his innocence and urges the general public to grasp that whereas allegations have the ability to form a story, that it’s hardly the complete, full story. We stay up for vigorously defending our consumer and stay assured that he’ll proceed contributing positively to each his staff and the group he serves so nicely.”
Nunez declined additional remark.
Pearce was given a pre-trial stay-away order from Jackson. Pearce and Jackson’s relationship started when each performed at Tennessee. Jackson sat beside Pearce on the 2025 NFL draft.
The Falcons mentioned in a press release Saturday they’re conscious of the arrest. “We’re within the means of gathering extra info and won’t have any additional touch upon an open authorized matter at the moment,” the staff mentioned.
The costs might threaten Pearce’s future with the staff.
The Falcons traded their 2026 first-round draft decide to the Los Angeles Rams for the No. 26 total decide in final 12 months’s draft used to pick out Pearce. He then set a Falcons rookie file with a team-leading 10 1/2 sacks. The Falcons set a staff file with 57 sacks, one 12 months after ending subsequent to final within the league with solely 31.
Regardless of the improved cross rush, the Falcons completed 8-9 for his or her eighth consecutive dropping season. Second-year coach Raheem Morris and basic supervisor Terry Fontenot have been fired. New president of soccer Matt Ryan has helped reshape the staff’s management, together with the hirings of coach Kevin Stefanski and basic supervisor Ian Cunningham.
Ryan, Cunningham and Stefanski already confronted troublesome low season choices, together with the potential launch of veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins regardless of starter Michael Penix Jr.’s unsure standing for the beginning of the season as he recovers from a knee harm. Pearce’s arrest and unsure authorized ramifications add important issue to the problem of constructing the staff’s first profitable season and playoff look since 2017.
