rewrite this content and keep HTML tags (remove this from content : rewrite this content and keep HTML tags)
Attorneys for Los Angeles Sparks forward Rickea Jackson formally notified a Florida court on Tuesday that that she is “willing to testify” against Atlanta Falcons linebacker James Pearce Jr. should the domestic violence charges against him proceed to trial.
Pearce, 22, was arrested this past Saturday and currently faces five felony charges including. These include two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and one count of aggravated stalking. Following his arrest, the court issued a pretrial conditional stay-away order, legally barring Pearce from any contact with Jackson.
In the filing, which includes a notice of appearance and a notice of victims’ rights under Marsy’s Law, Jackson’s legal team requested that the court prioritize “all possible resources and personnel” to ensure the case is concluded as quickly as possible. The document emphasizes her desire to bring “justice to her and the people of the State of Florida.”
The court filing highlights Jackson’s rights under Florida law, including the right to be present and heard at all public proceedings. It also notes her right to confer with prosecutors regarding any potential plea deals and to provide a victim impact statement regarding the effect the incident has had on her family. Jackson’s representatives, Gary F. Celetti and Wendy A.L. Beswick, noted that she “remains cooperative” and is pleading for a prompt resolution that does not compromise the prosecution’s case.
The filing is also significant in other ways. It involves a rare case where two active professional athletes are involved in a domestic violence incident in which the alleged victim agrees to testify against the other party. Domestic violence cases, whether involving celebrities or everyday people, often don’t proceed through the legal process because alleged victims are often unwilling to press charges or testify at trial.Â
The charges stem from a February 7 incident morning where Jackson told police that Pearce, her ex-boyfriend of nearly three years, followed her vehicle and attempted to force open her car door. According to an affidavit, Pearce later rammed her car multiple times as she attempted to seek safety at the Doral Police Department.
Police reports indicate that when officers arrived, Pearce attempted to flee, allegedly striking an officer’s knee with his SUV in the process. Following a vehicle pursuit and a subsequent crash, Pearce reportedly fled on foot before being apprehended. He was released on a $20,500 bond Sunday evening.
Jackson, who is entering her third season in the WNBA, had been in Miami to participate in the Unrivaled basketball league. However, an updated bracket from the league shows she is no longer listed as a participant in the one-on-one tournament.
Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski, who recently joined the organization, addressed the situation briefly on Wednesday during a press conference, deferring to the team’s previous statement that they are gathering information. Pearce’s legal team, consisting of Jacob Nunez, Yale Sanford, and Joshua Cohen, maintains their client’s innocence, stating that the current narrative is “hardly the full, complete story.”
