THE SIDELINES : Cooke’s Wife’s Case 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.

Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Atty. Robert F. Horan Jr. said Assistant U.S. Atty. Liam O’Grady asked him to be lenient with Marlene L. Ramallo Chalmers. Horan dropped the grand larceny charges pending against her.

“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, 77, on May 5 at his Middleburg estate. She could not be reached for comment.

Chalmers allegedly provided a cover by buying tickets and providing expense money for couriers.

Chalmers was arrested April 7, 1988, on a felony charge of writing four bad checks to the Cosmetic Center. The checks totaled $285.78. In Virginia, any bad check over $200 is a felony.