Rhonda Pearlman
Encyclopedia
Rhonda Pearlman is a fictional character
on the HBO drama The Wire
, played by actress Deirdre Lovejoy
. Pearlman has been the legal system liaison for all of Lieutenant Cedric Daniels
' investigations on the show. Later in the series, she begins a relationship with Cedric Daniels.
, leading to an on-again-off-again affair that was eventually discovered by McNulty's wife - and ultimately contributed to the breakup of the marriage. Although McNulty was honest enough to give Pearlman no hint of a future together, he would occasionally show up drunk on her doorstep. This ended when her relationship with Daniels began.
' detail in prosecuting the Barksdale Organization
, a violent drug crew whom Detective Jimmy McNulty
suspected of beating the Baltimore Police's homicide unit out of 10 murders. She appears telling Daniels to "make lemonade" with the lack of quality police he has been given and appears as the liaison between the detail and judge Daniel Phelan on legal matters. She approves the unit's level of "exhaustion" of conventional means – a requirement to have a wiretap authorized – helping them make a case against Avon Barksdale
. Throughout the season, she has a sexual relationship with McNulty. When Detective Lester Freamon
begins following the Barksdale Organizarion's money trail, several developers and politicians are implicated and Pearlman's boss, Steven Demper, becomes interested in the case. As the State's Attorney for Baltimore City Demper is more interested in his elected position than quality prosecutions and threatens her job. When Barksdale's nephew D'Angelo
is arrested for drug possession, she and McNulty try to squeeze him into a witness protection program. The attempt fails when his mother intervenes, and Avon Barksdale
gets a lighter prison sentence.
but was not as involved with an investigation run by Daniels due to the lack of drug cases. As McNulty is attempting to rebuild his marriage and cope with his unwanted posting to the marine unit, he and Pearlman end their relationship. When Daniels' now-permanent Major Case Unit investigates Frank Sobotka
and The Greek
's illegal activities at the port, Pearlman sees the opportunity to prosecute a large-scale drug-smuggling operation. The detail, along with the FBI, manages to arrest Sobotka and other drug dealers connected to The Greek, and Pearlman tries to negotiate testimony from Frank Sobotka and an Eastside Drug Dealer named "White Mike" based on their cooperation with the FBI and BPD. The case hits a dead end when the Greek's inside man in the FBI, Ernst Koutris, leaks information leading to the execution of Frank Sobotka.
having established at the end of Season 2 that Proposition Joe
and Stringer Bell
were co-operating in the drug trade, a wire tap is set up that yields little evidence until Prop Joe's nephew Cheese
talks about a murdered "dog" over the phone. Thinking the "dog" is a drug dealer, an arrest is made but the detail is disappointed to learn the "dog" was actually a pit bull
. The wiretap is disconnected and later that night, Pearlman makes a pass at Daniels, beginning a relationship that continues throughout the season. Daniels however is skeptical about making their relationship public, as he is still posing as Marla's husband in order to help her bid for city council. Daniels claims that it will look bad for Marla's political career if he is seen to be separated from her and with a white woman.
The detail is now chasing a drug dealer, Kintell Williamson, who is suspected in a number of murders, a task that annoys McNulty. In the meantime, Avon Barksdale
is granted parole
despite Pearlman's recommendation to the contrary. When McNulty links a number of murders to Stringer Bell
, the detail changes targets back to Bell and the Barksdale Organization. The detail sees disposable cell phones are being used and Pearlman and Daniels go to the wireless provider, but find them to be unhelpful, even after threatening them with bad publicity. Eventually Pearlman relies on Daniels to use his FBI connections to get a wiretap. As soon as the wiretap goes up, Stringer Bell is murdered, but not before providing information to Major Colvin, which is then passed on to the detail. The information identifies Avon Barksdale
's safehouse allowing Pearlman to sign off a search warrant, leading to the arrest of Barksdale and many of his people. After the arrest, Daniels is promoted to Major and he and Pearlman celebrate.
. Pearlman is reluctant to sign off the subpoenas as she feels she will be demoted for enabling an investigation that would interfere with the election of her boss, Steven Demper. She is also worried about Rupert Bond, an African American
candidate for State's Attorney winning the election, as she fears he will "bounce the white girl" to a demoted position due to her race in majority African American
Baltimore. The subpoenas are served and delayed by Burrell and Rawls who then put Lieutenant Charles Marimow in charge of Major Crimes to obstruct Freamon. Demper loses the election and Pearlman is promoted to deputy chief prosecutor in charge of violent crimes. She is valued for her courage by the newly elected Rupert Bond who is more interested in good prosecutions than his predecessor Steven Demper. Pearlman is shocked, but pleased with the promotion and also to find that Daniels is promoted to Colonel and Criminal Investigations Division commander and has influence with newly elected Mayor Tommy Carcetti
. Her first case in VCU begins with numerous bodies found in vacant houses.
for the vacant house murders. Pearlman is dismayed when the investigation, and the unit, are shut down because of funding issues. The unit has also been building a corruption case against Senator Clay Davis
which is also jeopardized. Along with her domestic partner Cedric Daniels
she appeals to State's Attorney Rupert Bond to discuss the problem with Mayor Tommy Carcetti
. Despite their efforts the Stanfield investigation is still closed down but Pearlman is allowed to keep detectives Leander Sydnor
and Lester Freamon
to prepare the Davis case.
After Maurice Levy becomes aware that the wiretap against Marlo is illegal, Pearlman offers him a deal: Stanfield goes free but retires permanently from the drug trade. Otherwise, she threatens to use the wiretap in court, reminding Levy that his sentence for illegally purchasing court documents and failure to report the wiretap will be longer than hers.
Pearlman works with the detectives to prepare the case. She then begins a series of witness depositions with the Grand Jury. Her witnesses include Senator Davis' driver Damien Lavelle Price. Freamon and Sydnor uncover new evidence that would justify a federal prosecution of Davis. Pearlman presents their findings to Bond but he elects to keep the case local and ignore the potential for additional charges. Bond instructs Pearlman to stage a deposition for Davis himself and in order to mark Davis as his target stages a photo opportunity for reporters as Davis leaves the courthouse.
Pearlman is thrilled when her partner Cedric Daniels
is touted by the papers as a potential replacement for Commissioner Burrell. Daniels is concerned that his history of corruption might surface, but does not confide in Pearlman. Daniels' fears are allayed when Burrell accepts a deal to leave quietly and Pearlman attends a press conference at which Daniels' promotion is announced. In the end-of-season montage, she is shown on the bench wearing judges robes and recusing herself from a case in which Daniels is a defense attorney.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
on the HBO drama The Wire
The Wire (TV series)
The Wire is an American television drama series set and produced in and around Baltimore, Maryland. Created and primarily written by author and former police reporter David Simon, the series was broadcast by the premium cable network HBO in the United States...
, played by actress Deirdre Lovejoy
Deirdre Lovejoy
Deirdre Lovejoy is an American actress. She is most notable for her role on the HBO television series The Wire as Rhonda Pearlman. She graduated from the University of Evansville with an undergraduate degree in theatre....
. Pearlman has been the legal system liaison for all of Lieutenant Cedric Daniels
Cedric Daniels
Cedric Daniels is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Lance Reddick. He is a well regarded officer in the department whose focus is on good police work and quality arrests...
' investigations on the show. Later in the series, she begins a relationship with Cedric Daniels.
Biography
As a leading Assistant State's Attorney in the narcotics division, Pearlman has been a guiding legal presence through all of the wiretap detail's investigations. A tough prosecutor and a stickler for process, Pearlman's grasp of the nuance of surveillance law and the legalities of complex casework proves invaluable to the investigations of Barksdale, Sobotka and Stanfield. One of the most morally upright figures on the show, she is ambitious nonetheless, and often worries about the political implications of the casework. She once had a soft spot for Jimmy McNultyJimmy McNulty
Detective James "Jimmy" McNulty is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by British actor Dominic West. McNulty is an Irish American detective in the Baltimore Police Department...
, leading to an on-again-off-again affair that was eventually discovered by McNulty's wife - and ultimately contributed to the breakup of the marriage. Although McNulty was honest enough to give Pearlman no hint of a future together, he would occasionally show up drunk on her doorstep. This ended when her relationship with Daniels began.
Season 1
Pearlman was the ASA heading the Narcotics Cases in Season 1, assisting Lieutenant Cedric DanielsCedric Daniels
Cedric Daniels is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Lance Reddick. He is a well regarded officer in the department whose focus is on good police work and quality arrests...
' detail in prosecuting the Barksdale Organization
Barksdale Organization
In the television series The Wire, the fictional Barksdale Organization led by Avon Barksdale began as the most powerful and violent drug crew in Baltimore, Maryland and was the main focus of investigation in seasons one and three...
, a violent drug crew whom Detective Jimmy McNulty
Jimmy McNulty
Detective James "Jimmy" McNulty is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by British actor Dominic West. McNulty is an Irish American detective in the Baltimore Police Department...
suspected of beating the Baltimore Police's homicide unit out of 10 murders. She appears telling Daniels to "make lemonade" with the lack of quality police he has been given and appears as the liaison between the detail and judge Daniel Phelan on legal matters. She approves the unit's level of "exhaustion" of conventional means – a requirement to have a wiretap authorized – helping them make a case against Avon Barksdale
Avon Barksdale
Avon Randolph Barksdale is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire portrayed by actor Wood Harris. Avon is the dominant drug dealer of Baltimore's West Side, running the Barksdale Organization...
. Throughout the season, she has a sexual relationship with McNulty. When Detective Lester Freamon
Lester Freamon
Lester Freamon is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Clarke Peters. Freamon is a detective in the Baltimore Police Department's Major Crimes Unit...
begins following the Barksdale Organizarion's money trail, several developers and politicians are implicated and Pearlman's boss, Steven Demper, becomes interested in the case. As the State's Attorney for Baltimore City Demper is more interested in his elected position than quality prosecutions and threatens her job. When Barksdale's nephew D'Angelo
D'Angelo Barksdale
D'Angelo "D" Barksdale is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire played by actor Larry Gilliard Jr. D'Angelo is the nephew of Avon Barksdale and a lieutenant in his drug dealing organization which controls most of the trade in West Baltimore...
is arrested for drug possession, she and McNulty try to squeeze him into a witness protection program. The attempt fails when his mother intervenes, and Avon Barksdale
Avon Barksdale
Avon Randolph Barksdale is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire portrayed by actor Wood Harris. Avon is the dominant drug dealer of Baltimore's West Side, running the Barksdale Organization...
gets a lighter prison sentence.
Season 2
Pearlman continues her casual relationship with Jimmy McNultyJimmy McNulty
Detective James "Jimmy" McNulty is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by British actor Dominic West. McNulty is an Irish American detective in the Baltimore Police Department...
but was not as involved with an investigation run by Daniels due to the lack of drug cases. As McNulty is attempting to rebuild his marriage and cope with his unwanted posting to the marine unit, he and Pearlman end their relationship. When Daniels' now-permanent Major Case Unit investigates Frank Sobotka
Frank Sobotka
Francis "Frank" Sobotka is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Chris Bauer.-Biography:Frank is a respected Polish-American secretary treasurer for the International Brotherhood of Stevedores at the Baltimore docks...
and The Greek
The Greek (The Wire)
The Greek is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Bill Raymond. The Greek is the head of an international criminal organization involved in narcotics and human trafficking....
's illegal activities at the port, Pearlman sees the opportunity to prosecute a large-scale drug-smuggling operation. The detail, along with the FBI, manages to arrest Sobotka and other drug dealers connected to The Greek, and Pearlman tries to negotiate testimony from Frank Sobotka and an Eastside Drug Dealer named "White Mike" based on their cooperation with the FBI and BPD. The case hits a dead end when the Greek's inside man in the FBI, Ernst Koutris, leaks information leading to the execution of Frank Sobotka.
Season 3
Pearlman is the first to notice Lieutenant Daniels is living in the detail office, having separated from his wife. With McNulty and Detective Kima GreggsKima Greggs
Detective Shakima "Kima" Greggs is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actress Sonja Sohn. Greggs is a police detective in the Baltimore Police Department who is a dedicated officer and capable detective with some off-the-job issues. Openly lesbian, she has had problems...
having established at the end of Season 2 that Proposition Joe
Proposition Joe
Joseph "Proposition Joe" Stewart is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire played by actor Robert F. Chew. Joe is an Eastside drug kingpin who preferred a peaceful solution to business disputes when possible...
and Stringer Bell
Stringer Bell
Russell "Stringer" Bell is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by English actor Idris Elba. Bell served as drug kingpin Avon Barksdale's second in command, assuming direct control of the Barksdale Organization during Avon's imprisonment...
were co-operating in the drug trade, a wire tap is set up that yields little evidence until Prop Joe's nephew Cheese
Cheese Wagstaff
Calvin "Cheese" Wagstaff is a fictional character on the HBO television series The Wire. He is portrayed by hip hop recording artist Method Man. He is a crew chief for his uncle Proposition Joe's drug organization and later works for the Stanfield Organization after betraying his uncle and...
talks about a murdered "dog" over the phone. Thinking the "dog" is a drug dealer, an arrest is made but the detail is disappointed to learn the "dog" was actually a pit bull
Pit bull
A Pit bull is any of several breeds of dog in the molosser breed group.Many jurisdictions that restrict pit bulls, including Ontario, Canada,, Miami, Florida, U.S...
. The wiretap is disconnected and later that night, Pearlman makes a pass at Daniels, beginning a relationship that continues throughout the season. Daniels however is skeptical about making their relationship public, as he is still posing as Marla's husband in order to help her bid for city council. Daniels claims that it will look bad for Marla's political career if he is seen to be separated from her and with a white woman.
The detail is now chasing a drug dealer, Kintell Williamson, who is suspected in a number of murders, a task that annoys McNulty. In the meantime, Avon Barksdale
Avon Barksdale
Avon Randolph Barksdale is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire portrayed by actor Wood Harris. Avon is the dominant drug dealer of Baltimore's West Side, running the Barksdale Organization...
is granted parole
Parole
Parole may have different meanings depending on the field and judiciary system. All of the meanings originated from the French parole . Following its use in late-resurrected Anglo-French chivalric practice, the term became associated with the release of prisoners based on prisoners giving their...
despite Pearlman's recommendation to the contrary. When McNulty links a number of murders to Stringer Bell
Stringer Bell
Russell "Stringer" Bell is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by English actor Idris Elba. Bell served as drug kingpin Avon Barksdale's second in command, assuming direct control of the Barksdale Organization during Avon's imprisonment...
, the detail changes targets back to Bell and the Barksdale Organization. The detail sees disposable cell phones are being used and Pearlman and Daniels go to the wireless provider, but find them to be unhelpful, even after threatening them with bad publicity. Eventually Pearlman relies on Daniels to use his FBI connections to get a wiretap. As soon as the wiretap goes up, Stringer Bell is murdered, but not before providing information to Major Colvin, which is then passed on to the detail. The information identifies Avon Barksdale
Avon Barksdale
Avon Randolph Barksdale is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire portrayed by actor Wood Harris. Avon is the dominant drug dealer of Baltimore's West Side, running the Barksdale Organization...
's safehouse allowing Pearlman to sign off a search warrant, leading to the arrest of Barksdale and many of his people. After the arrest, Daniels is promoted to Major and he and Pearlman celebrate.
Season 4
With Daniels now a Major, Freamon is the guiding force behind the Major Case Unit and manages to tie evidence from the Barksdale money train to several politicians and developers who are on good terms with mayor Clarence RoyceClarence Royce
Clarence V. Royce is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by Glynn Turman-Biography:Mayor of Baltimore Clarence V. Royce is a deft political figure and is fixated on remaining in power. Royce is the incumbent Mayor of Baltimore who was elected into office in 1998 and is in the...
. Pearlman is reluctant to sign off the subpoenas as she feels she will be demoted for enabling an investigation that would interfere with the election of her boss, Steven Demper. She is also worried about Rupert Bond, an African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
candidate for State's Attorney winning the election, as she fears he will "bounce the white girl" to a demoted position due to her race in majority African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
Baltimore. The subpoenas are served and delayed by Burrell and Rawls who then put Lieutenant Charles Marimow in charge of Major Crimes to obstruct Freamon. Demper loses the election and Pearlman is promoted to deputy chief prosecutor in charge of violent crimes. She is valued for her courage by the newly elected Rupert Bond who is more interested in good prosecutions than his predecessor Steven Demper. Pearlman is shocked, but pleased with the promotion and also to find that Daniels is promoted to Colonel and Criminal Investigations Division commander and has influence with newly elected Mayor Tommy Carcetti
Tommy Carcetti
Thomas J. "Tommy" Carcetti is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by Irish actor Aidan Gillen. Carcetti is an ambitious Baltimore politician who rises from a seat on the city council to the office of the Mayor of Baltimore, and to the office of the Governor of Maryland by the...
. Her first case in VCU begins with numerous bodies found in vacant houses.
Season 5
After more than a year of investigation the Major Crimes Unit has failed to bring a case against Marlo StanfieldMarlo Stanfield
Marlo "Black" Stanfield is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Jamie Hector. Stanfield is a young, ruthless and ambitious player in the Baltimore drug trade who gains control of West Baltimore and is the head of his own drug crew.-Character background and plot...
for the vacant house murders. Pearlman is dismayed when the investigation, and the unit, are shut down because of funding issues. The unit has also been building a corruption case against Senator Clay Davis
Clay Davis
State Senator R. Clayton "Clay" Davis is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Isiah Whitlock, Jr. Davis is a corrupt Maryland State Senator with a reputation for pocketing bribes...
which is also jeopardized. Along with her domestic partner Cedric Daniels
Cedric Daniels
Cedric Daniels is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Lance Reddick. He is a well regarded officer in the department whose focus is on good police work and quality arrests...
she appeals to State's Attorney Rupert Bond to discuss the problem with Mayor Tommy Carcetti
Tommy Carcetti
Thomas J. "Tommy" Carcetti is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by Irish actor Aidan Gillen. Carcetti is an ambitious Baltimore politician who rises from a seat on the city council to the office of the Mayor of Baltimore, and to the office of the Governor of Maryland by the...
. Despite their efforts the Stanfield investigation is still closed down but Pearlman is allowed to keep detectives Leander Sydnor
Leander Sydnor
Leander Sydnor is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Corey Parker Robinson. Sydnor is a young, married Baltimore Police detective who was a member of the Barksdale detail and later worked in the Major Crimes Unit.-Season 1:...
and Lester Freamon
Lester Freamon
Lester Freamon is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Clarke Peters. Freamon is a detective in the Baltimore Police Department's Major Crimes Unit...
to prepare the Davis case.
After Maurice Levy becomes aware that the wiretap against Marlo is illegal, Pearlman offers him a deal: Stanfield goes free but retires permanently from the drug trade. Otherwise, she threatens to use the wiretap in court, reminding Levy that his sentence for illegally purchasing court documents and failure to report the wiretap will be longer than hers.
Pearlman works with the detectives to prepare the case. She then begins a series of witness depositions with the Grand Jury. Her witnesses include Senator Davis' driver Damien Lavelle Price. Freamon and Sydnor uncover new evidence that would justify a federal prosecution of Davis. Pearlman presents their findings to Bond but he elects to keep the case local and ignore the potential for additional charges. Bond instructs Pearlman to stage a deposition for Davis himself and in order to mark Davis as his target stages a photo opportunity for reporters as Davis leaves the courthouse.
Pearlman is thrilled when her partner Cedric Daniels
Cedric Daniels
Cedric Daniels is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Lance Reddick. He is a well regarded officer in the department whose focus is on good police work and quality arrests...
is touted by the papers as a potential replacement for Commissioner Burrell. Daniels is concerned that his history of corruption might surface, but does not confide in Pearlman. Daniels' fears are allayed when Burrell accepts a deal to leave quietly and Pearlman attends a press conference at which Daniels' promotion is announced. In the end-of-season montage, she is shown on the bench wearing judges robes and recusing herself from a case in which Daniels is a defense attorney.