Nikki Garcia’s estranged husband, Artem Chigvintsev, will not face domestic violence charges, as the Napa County District Attorney’s Office has launched a “thorough” criminal investigation.
Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley announced Tuesday that her office has declined to file criminal charges against Chigvintsev, 42, in connection with his arrest on suspicion of domestic violence, which led Garcia, 40, to file for divorce.
The decision not to bring charges against Chigvintsev was made after a thorough review of the criminal investigation and a careful evaluation of the evidence presented to the prosecution.
“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.
Nikki Garcia’s Estranged Husband Artem Chigvintsev Will NOT Face Domestic Violence Charges After ‘Thorough’ Criminal Investigation
“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 42-year-old Dancing With The Stars dancer 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.
Chigvintsev has also requested joint legal and physical custody of his four-year-old son Matteo and Nikki.
The Russian-born dancer has asked for spousal support and wants Garcia to pay 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.”