Falcons’ James Pearce offered intervention program to avoid trial

Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. agreed Thursday to enter an intervention program, permitting him to avoid trial on felony expenses of aggravated battery with a lethal weapon, fleeing police and resisting arrest, together with misdemeanor stalking, his lawyer mentioned.

Pearce’s lawyer, Yale Sanford, informed ESPN that Pearce should keep away from his ex-girlfriend, WNBA participant Rickea Jackson, and take part in remedy as a part of the stipulations of the six-month intervention program, which is run by an out of doors third occasion.

Pearce was not current within the courtroom however attended the listening to through Zoom. He is scheduled to seem in Miami-Dade County courtroom on May 7 to finalize particulars. Florida legislation permits for the cops and the sufferer — Jackson on this case — to be consulted earlier than the deal is finalized.

The Falcons declined remark Thursday, citing the pending authorized matter. Messages left with the Miami-Dade state lawyer’s workplace and Jackson’s attorneys weren’t instantly returned to ESPN.

The four counts against Pearce, 22, stemmed from a Feb. 7 incident in Doral, Florida, the place he allegedly rammed his Lamborghini right into a automobile being pushed by Jackson after which drove away from police after they tried to arrest him.

Pearce allegedly adopted Jackson’s automobile and repeatedly collided with hers as she tried to attain the Doral police station. Officers confronted him however reported that he disobeyed their orders and fled in his car earlier than crashing at an intersection. He then tried to proceed on foot earlier than officers subdued him, in accordance to police accounts. He then allegedly resisted arrest. Pearce wound up spending an evening in jail earlier than being launched the next day on a $20,500 bond.

Jackson wrote in a protecting order submitting on Feb. 9 that she drove to the Doral police station on Feb. 7 as a result of she “knew James was going to hurt me.”

Pearce’s authorized staff informed ESPN on the time of the fees that Pearce “maintains his innocence and urges the public to understand that while allegations have the power to shape a narrative, that it is hardly the full, complete story.”

Jackson, who was traded from the Los Angeles Sparks to the Chicago Sky this month, informed the courtroom in February she could be prepared to testify within the case. In the protecting order petition, she wrote she was in fear for her life and was involved “James will kill me” if the courtroom didn’t intervene.

The courtroom granted the preliminary safety request, with a everlasting injunction listening to set for May 21. The order states that Pearce can’t contact Jackson, go inside 500 toes of her house or administrative center or be 100 toes from her car.

Officers in each Doral and Davie, Florida responded to at least eight 911 calls involving Pearce between November and his arrest — seven in Doral involving an ex-girlfriend whose title was redacted within the reviews and one in Davie the place Pearce and Jackson allegedly received into an argument in an Uber after Pearce believed Jackson was dishonest on her. Jackson alleged Pearce took her cellphone, pulled her hair and scratched her left hand. Pearce mentioned there was not a bodily altercation.

An NFL spokesman informed ESPN on Thursday the league has been “closely monitoring all developments in the matter which remains under review of the personal conduct policy.”

Pearce, the No. 24 total choose within the 2025 draft, had 10.5 sacks as a rookie final season, setting a franchise document.