| “ | Do you remember those old westerns where the outlaw would rob a bank? That's me. I'm a safe-cracker. But you don't blow off the doors with dynamite. You listen for the clicks. Trainers, masseuses - that's one click, barely a challenge. A professional woman like Nellie, a reporter - that's two clicks. That's a better challenge, but that door's already open, and once it opens, it never shuts. | „ |
| ~ Paulo bragging about his skill at raping women |
Paulo Rocha is the main antagonist of the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode "Dead Ball". He is a famous professional soccer player who has raped and sexually assaulted dozens of women and teenage girls.
He is portrayed by Michael Ocampo.
Early life[]
Rocha grew up in Brazil, where he was known as a talented soccer player. His manager and childhood friend Antonio Campos helped him build a career so successful that he was able to join a team in the U.S. Major League, becoming an overnight star.
He was also well-known for his womanizing ways. While most women slept with him willingly, he would occasionally rape a woman if she said no. One such rape led to his wife Simone leaving him, although she paid for the victim's silence so Rocha would not lose his fortune and she could get half of it in the divorce. Campos also paid off several of Rocha's victims over the years to protect Rocha's career and his own investment in it.
In 2015, he raped reporter Nellie Kramer in London while she was interviewing him and got her pregnant. Campos paid her off and threatened to have the son she conceived from the rape taken away from her if she talked to the press or the police. Six years later, Rocha seduced Campos' 16-year-old daughter Ana by manipulating her into believing he loved her. Campos did not know of their relationship, but his wife Marcia found out and threatened Campos with the police unless he gave her money, which he did behind Campos' back.
"Dead Ball"[]
Kramer arranges another interview with Rocha, who does not remember her. When she confronts him about what he did to her, he first tries to seduce her, but she curses him after reminding him who she was and storms out, despite his pleas. She then goes to the NYPD's Special Victims Unit and tells Captain Olivia Benson that Rocha raped her, prompting Benson to open an investigation of Campos in which she and Detectives Fin Tutuola, Amanda Rollins, Joe Velasco, and Grace Muncy talk to several of his victims, who all refuse to testify against him because it would violate the terms of the non-disclosure agreements Campos had made them sign after paying them off.
The SVU team catches a break when Muncy uncovers Rocha's payments to Marcia. Acting on a hunch, she examines Ana's social media and finds pictures of him, along with texts she made to his cell phone proclaiming her love and alluding to sexual encounters they had in the past. Posing as a fan of her Instagram feed, Muncy talks to Ana about Rocha, and she tells her that they are in love. SVU then tells Campos about Rocha sexually abusing his daughter, as he tried to deny until they make him realize it was something Rocha would do, which enrages him to the point that he agrees to wear a wire to get Rocha to incriminate himself.
Campos meets with Rocha and tells him that he went too far by raping Nellie. Rocha laughs him off and starts bragging about his sexual prowess, particularly his ability to make reluctant women have sex with him; he compares himself to the westerns they watched where a safe-cracker can steal what he wants by knowing how many "clicks" it takes to "break in". When Campos asks him how many "clicks" it took to "break in" to Ana, Rocha first tries to deny it, but Campos reveals the payments. Rocha then says that Ana slept with him willingly - unaware that the SVU team is listening in from outside. To their surprise, however, Campos pulls a gun on Rocha and fires at him, missing deliberately. The detectives rush in, finding Rocha ducking for cover and begging for help. They arrest Rocha, despite him pleading to Campos who voices his shame at defending him before he is arrested too.
Benson and Assistant District Attorney Dominick Carisi Jr. interrogate Rocha, threatening to send him to prison for 20 years for statutory rape. His lawyer manages to make a deal with Carisi in which he pleads guilty to sexual abuse in the third degree and registers as a sex offender in return for 10 years of probation in lieu of going to prison. While he avoids being incarcerated, however, his life is essentially ruined, losing his reputation, his career and, with it, his money.
External links[]
- Paolo Rocha on the Law & Order Wiki
