
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, June 28, 1990                   TAG: 9006280737
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B7   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: FAIRFAX                                LENGTH: Short

CHARGES AGAINST WIFE OF SKINS OWNER DROPPED

A bad-check charge against the fourth wife of Washington Redskins owner Jack Kent Cooke has been dropped after she allegedly cooperated in several cases involving major drug dealers.

Commonwealth's Attorney Robert Horan said his office dismissed grand larceny charges against Marlene Chalmers after Assistant U.S. Attorney Liam O'Grady asked for leniency.

"They [federal officials] were interested in us giving her a break because she testified and provided information in a number of major drug cases," Horan said. "Restitution had been made and we agreed to drop the charges. Any time someone will give you a major drug distributor, that's important."

In 1986, Chalmers, 37, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import less than a kilogram of cocaine, according to court records. Chalmers married Cooke on May 5 at his Middleburg estate.

Chalmers was arrested April 7, 1988, on a felony charge of writing four bad checks to the Cosmetic Center. The checks totaled $285.78.

- Associated Press

by CNB