NFL Star James Pearce Jr. Arrested in Doral: What His Charges Mean Under Florida Law

​By Dennis Gonzalez, Esq. | The Law Office of Dennis Gonzalez, P.A.

This past weekend, Atlanta Falcons rookie linebacker James Pearce Jr. — a first-round draft pick and Defensive Rookie of the Year finalist — was arrested in Doral, Florida, following an alleged domestic dispute with WNBA player Rickea Jackson. What began as a call to Doral Police Department headquarters quickly escalated into a vehicle pursuit, a crash, and a booking at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center with a bond set at $20,500.

Pearce, 22, now faces five felony charges, including:

• Two counts of Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon (his vehicle)
• Aggravated Stalking
• Fleeing or Eluding Police with Lights or Siren Active
• Aggravated Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer
• Resisting an Officer Without Violence

 
His defense team has issued a statement maintaining his innocence, urging the public to recognize that “accusations can influence a narrative” but “do not represent the complete picture.”
As a Miami criminal defense attorney, I want to break down what these charges actually mean — because if you or a loved one ever faces similar accusations, understanding the law could make all the difference.
  
Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon -- Florida Statute § 784.045Under Florida law, aggravated battery is a second-degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The charge applies when a person intentionally causes great bodily harm, uses a deadly weapon, or batters a person the defendant knew was pregnant.

Here’s where it gets interesting: a motor vehicle can be classified as a “deadly weapon” under Florida law. According to the arrest report, officers allege Pearce’s SUV struck both Jackson’s vehicle and a law enforcement officer’s knee during his attempt to flee. That’s how prosecutors can charge a vehicle collision as aggravated battery — the vehicle becomes the weapon.​

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Defense Considerations:

The critical question is intent. Did the defendant intentionally use the vehicle to cause harm, or was contact incidental to the act of driving away? Was there actual "great bodily harm"? These are fact-intensive questions that a skilled defense attorney can challenge.

Aggravated Stalking — Florida Statute § 784.048(3)Aggravated stalking in Florida is a third-degree felony, carrying up to 5 years in prison. The statute requires the prosecution to prove that a person willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly followed, harassed, or cyberstalked another person and made a credible threat to that person.
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According to reports, Jackson told police that Pearce was “trailing her” and “collided with her vehicle.” Prosecutors will need to establish a pattern of conduct — not just a single incident — and that any threat was credible. This is often a heavily contested element in domestic-related stalking cases.

Defense Considerations:

A single incident of following someone, even in the context of a heated argument, may not meet the legal threshold for "repeatedly" as required under the statute. Context matters enormously.

​Fleeing and Eluding — Florida Statute § 316.1935 (Enhanced by HB 113)
​This is where the legal landscape has shifted dramatically. As of October 1, 2025, Florida’s House Bill 113 (HB 113) significantly toughened penalties for fleeing and eluding law enforcement:

Offense Level	Classification	Maximum Penalty
Failure to stop (lights/siren active)	3rd Degree Felony	Up to 5 years prison
High-speed or reckless fleeing	2nd Degree Felony	Up to 15 years prison
Fleeing resulting in serious injury or death	1st Degree Felony	Mandatory minimum 3 years prison

​What’s New Under HB 113:

• Expanded definitions of what constitutes “fleeing” — even delayed compliance or slow-speed evasion now qualifies.
• Sentencing multipliers for repeat offenders: prior fleeing convictions increase sentencing points by 1.5x, making prison time far more likely.
• Prosecutors are now encouraged to seek incarceration over probation.
• Vehicle forfeiture authority has been expanded for intentional fleeing cases.

 
In Pearce’s case, the arrest report alleges he fled from officers, entered a pursuit, struck law enforcement vehicles, and ultimately crashed before being apprehended. Under the enhanced HB 113 framework, the fleeing charge alone could carry severe consequences — and that’s before stacking it with the aggravated battery charges.

Defense Considerations:

For fleeing charges, the law requires the officer's vehicle to display proper insignia and markings with lights and sirens activated. If the stop wasn't properly signaled, or if there's a question about whether the defendant knew it was a law enforcement officer ordering the stop, there may be viable defenses.

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Aggravated Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer — Florida Statute § 784.07

​Battering a law enforcement officer is treated with enhanced severity under Florida law. When the battery is “aggravated” — meaning it involves a deadly weapon or causes great bodily harm — it becomes a first-degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison.
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The arrest report states Pearce’s SUV “intentionally hit an officer’s left knee” as he fled. The prosecution will need to prove that the contact was intentional and not simply an unfortunate consequence of the vehicle being in motion.

​What Should You Do If You Face Similar Charges?

Whether you’re a professional athlete or an everyday person, the criminal justice system treats these charges with the same severity. Here’s what matters:

1. Exercise your right to remain silent. Anything you say will be used against you. Pearce’s legal team was wise to issue a carefully crafted statement and decline further comment.
2. Contact a criminal defense attorney immediately. Time is critical — evidence preservation, witness statements, and early investigation can make or break a case.
3. Understand that charges are not convictions. As Pearce’s attorneys correctly stated, “accusations can influence a narrative” but they “do not represent the complete picture.” Every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
4. Don’t flee from law enforcement. Under the new HB 113, the consequences of running are now more severe than ever. A moment of panic can turn a misdemeanor situation into stacked felonies.

Contact The Law Office of Dennis Gonzalez, Jr., P.A.

If you or someone you know is facing criminal charges in Miami-Dade County — whether it's aggravated battery, stalking, fleeing and eluding, or any other serious offense — you need experienced representation. I handle cases throughout Miami-Dade and understand how local prosecutors and judges approach these charges.

Schedule a Free Consultation

□ (305) 209-0384

□ www.dgonz.com