Charlie Coates

Evil-doer
Full Name	Charlie Coates
Alias	CO Coates Donuts Donuts the Guard
Origin	Orange is the New Black
Occupation	Correctional officer Doughnut shop assistant (both former)
Powers / Skills	Baking Hiding
Goals	Have absolute power over Pennsatucky Escape the riot Move to Canada
Crimes	Rape Harbouring an escaped prisoner
Type of Villain	Dimwitted Rapist

Charlie Coates is a major antagonist in season three of Orange is the New Black, and a supporting antagonist in season four and five.

He is a correctional officer at Litchfield Penitentiary, and the primary love interest and rapist of Pennsatucky.

He was portrayed by James McMenamin, who also portrayed Jace Baylor in Manifest.

Appearance

Coates has thinning, mousey brown hair and pale blue eyes. He has facial hair and a moustache, and is mostly seen wearing his CO uniform. He develops a scar on his forehead after getting into a car crash.

Personality

CO Coates is portrayed as a perverted man who seeks to exert sexual power over Pennsatucky. He coerces Pennsatucky into an abusive relationship by reducing her self-esteem. He is shown to be timid and weak, hiding behind a guise of dominance despite having any authority over most prisoners.

Biography

Background

Little is known about Coates' background other than at some point before taking to the job at Litchfield he worked in Trudy's Donuts as a sales assistant.

Orange is the New Black

Before work, COs Bell and O'Neill stop for doughnuts, where they are served by CO Coates. O'Neill has a trivial disagreement with Coates over the varieties of pastries on offer, which infuriates O'Neill. Coates is then hired as one of the many newly qualified COs as part of budget cuts made by the prison's new private management, MCC.

Coates has a shift with Pennsatucky, who starts driving the prison van after Lorna Morello is fired for letting Miss Rosa use it to escape in season two. On a drive, Coates asks Pennsatucky to stop by at Trudy's Donuts so that he can pick up his final paycheck and get some food. Coates takes Pennsatucky to a pond where they start feeding the ducks.

The pair develop a bond, regularly visiting the shop and feeding the ducks. On one occassion, Coates uses his authority to force Pennsatucky to pick a muddy doughnut off the floor like a dog. When Pennsatucky confronts Coates on this. To overpower her, he rapes her. Pennsatucky does not speak on the matter due to her mother's influence telling her that women are sexual servants for men and cannot complain if they are raped.

When Big Boo finds out about this, she convinces Pennsatucky to get her revenge by drugging him and abusing him with a broom handle. However, Pennsatucky does not go through with the plan and leaves him unconscious and half-naked. In later seasons, Coates reveals to CO Baxter Bayley whilst guarding Aydin Bayat's body that he does not feel prison has changed him, showing that his perversions are intrinsic to who he is.

During the riot, Coates takes refuge in the ceiling to avoid being taken hostage. Pennsatucky protects him by refusing to mention she saw him. One evening whilst Pennsatucky masturbates, CO Coates lifts up a ceiling tile and watches her. Pennsatucky and Coates meet in the laudry room and beginning kissing, only to be discovered by Big Boo. Pennsatucky hides Coates in a drier and goes with her. Coates is later found by Leanne Taylor and Angie Rice whilst in search for the gun. Pennsatucky returns and tries to convince the two to let him go. Pennsatucky grabs Angie's gun and throws it to Coates which fires and shoots off the tip of Leanne's finger. Coates then manages to escape the prison.

Pennsatucky later escapes to the guard hut where Coates takes refuge. In season six, Pennsatucky and Coates develop a bucket list of things to do whilst their life can be normal. CO Dixon finds it and believes it to be a bucket list of things to do before committing suicide, and takes Coates out to complete the list. Coates hides Pennsatucky in the boot of the car, which frustrates Pennsatucky as she wants to spend time with Coates. Growing more and more frustrated, Pennsatucky decides to reveal her identity to Dixon, who decides not to say anything and supports their relationship.

At a funfair, Pennsatucky and Coates are confronted by a group of homophobes who believe Pennsatucky is a man due to her disguise. Dixon protects the two and threatens to hit the homophobes. Pennsatucky tells Coates she intends to leave, causing Coates to have a fit of anger and acts violently, finally causing Pennsatucky to realise she will never be safe around him. Pennsatucky leaves Coates for good in their plan to get to Canada, kissing him before she leaves and turns herself in.