Nikki Garcia was photographed in Napa Valley, California on Tuesday after it was announced that her estranged husband Artem Chigvintsev will not face domestic violence charges after the Napa County District Attorney’s Office completed a “thorough” criminal investigation.
Garcia, 40, who rose to fame in WWE with her twin sister Brie as The Bella Twins, was photographed with a shopping cart full of pumpkins of all shapes and sizes as fall kicks off.
Garcia, who has filed for divorce from the 42-year-old professional dancer, kept a low profile in a black top and leggings with black sunglasses and a brown straw hat with a black band.
The former WWE star wore a light blue denim shirt slung around her waist, a handbag over her shoulder and gray sneakers on this fall day.
Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley announced Tuesday that her office has decided not to file criminal charges against Chigvintsev, 42, in connection with his Aug. 29 arrest on suspicion of domestic violence.
Nikki Garcia, 40, was photographed in Napa Valley, California on Tuesday amid news that her estranged husband Artem Chigvintsev, 42, will not face domestic violence charges
Garcia was photographed with a shopping cart full of pumpkins of all sizes as fall begins
The decision not to file charges against Chigvintsev was made after a thorough review of the criminal investigation and a careful evaluation of the evidence presented to the prosecution, officials said.
“While we take every arrest seriously and stand against domestic violence, we have an ethical obligation to only file charges where there is evidence,” Haley said in a statement obtained by DailyMail.com.
Haley said, “We must prove every criminal charge ‘beyond a reasonable doubt,’ which is the highest standard in the American criminal justice system. If the available evidence does not meet this standard of proof, we cannot ethically bring charges.”
Domestic violence can be classified as a crime or a misdemeanor and has a limitation period of three and one year respectively.
The Napa County Prosecutor’s Office may review the case at any time within the statute of limitations if it becomes aware of additional incidents or otherwise learns of facts or evidence previously unknown.
Haley added that the Napa County District Attorney’s Office Victim Services Unit works closely with victims of domestic violence and other crimes, connecting them with available resources, whether or not charges have been filed.
Earlier this month, the Dancing With The Stars pro cited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for their split in his own divorce filing.
He listed August 29 as the date of the divorce, the same day he was arrested for domestic violence following the alleged altercation at their Napa, California, home.
Nikki Garcia’s estranged husband Artem Chigvintsev will NOT face domestic violence charges after ‘thorough’ criminal investigation. Pictured in LA in 2019
In his own divorce filing, Chigvintsev requested joint legal and physical custody of his and Nikki’s 4-year-old son, Matteo
Chigvintsev was booked into the Napa County Jail at 10:59 a.m. on a domestic violence charge before being released on $25,000 bail
Chigvintsev has also requested joint legal and physical custody of his and Nikki’s 4-year-old son, Matteo. The Russian-born dancer has asked for spousal support and has also requested that Garcia pay his legal fees.
In the filing, Artem claimed that he was a presumed husband between August 26, 2022, and January 19, 2023.
A putative spouse is a person who believes that he or she is legally married to someone, but that the marriage itself is not valid.
A few days before the professional dancer was arrested, the couple celebrated their second wedding anniversary.
Chigvintsev shared a heartfelt message at the time in an Instagram post that read: “Happy birthday my love, I can’t see my life without you. You are my everything.”