Photo by John Mac, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Troubling allegations involving Rickea Jackson and James Pearce Jr. have surfaced after the WNBA player sought legal protection from the Atlanta Falcons rookie. She claimed that she feared for her safety. According to court filings obtained by multiple outlets, a pattern of incidents made things more dangerous for Jackson over time, ultimately pushing her to seek a restraining order.
As reported by TMZ Sports, the court granted Jackson a temporary protective order. The order prohibits her from contacting Jackson, keeping him at least 500 feet away from her home and workplace. He is also barred from approaching her vehicle and was ordered to give up any firearms that are in his possession to authorities as the case moves through the legal system.
Jackson told the court she felt the situation had grown increasingly dangerous, writing that she believed her former partner could seriously harm her if the court did not intervene. “James has threatened to kill me, James has threatened to harm me, James has threatened to injure me, James has threatened to place a bag over my head, and James has verbally and physically abused me on more than one occasion,” she said. “I am truly in fear for my life.”
Jackson Is Now Safe From Pierce
According to the documents, the situation intensified in early February, when they got into an altercation at a gas station. The linebacker had accused her of infidelity. “While at a gas station, James attacked me by snatching my cellular phone out of my hand, pulling my hair, and taking my personal belongings,” she recalled.
Horrifying: WNBA star Rickea Jackson has filed for a protective order against Falcons star DE James Pearce Jr.
Rickea says she is in “fear” of her life and that James “will kill” her without it.
😳😳😳 pic.twitter.com/kuhMdLwXb6
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) March 12, 2026
After enduring alleged physical and verbal abuse, Jackson said she tried to break up with the linebacker in early February. However, he refused, even offering around $200k, according to Jackson. Things got even more grim for the Los Angeles Spark star.
Jackson alleged Pearce followed her while she was driving and attempted to confront her on the road, with the encounter reportedly ending with Pearce crashing his vehicle into hers more than once. The incident that led to his arrest and several felony charges. These earlier incidents contributed to the court’s decision to grant her the restraining order
Pearce was arrested in early February on aggravated battery charges, among his other charges, for his actions against his girlfriend. Prosecutors are now reviewing the case as it proceeds through the courts. Jackson will testify and she has all the receipts. But for now, she is safe from her ex-boyfriend thanks to the order. A hearing to determine whether the protection order will become permanent has been scheduled for April.