Nikki Garcia's husband Artem Chigvintsev will not be charged with domestic violence due to lack of evidence, announces DA

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Nikki Garcia’s ex-husband Artem Chigvintseve won’t be charged with domestic violence (Image via Matt Winkelmeyer/KCASports2019/Getty Images)

Nikki Garcia's estranged husband, Artem Chigvintsev, won't be charged with a domestic violence charge after his arrest in August because of lack of evidence. Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley explained in a Tuesday, September 25, press release that while they take every domestic violence arrest "seriously," they can only file charges with substantial evidence. She noted:

"We are required to prove any and every criminal charge 'beyond a reasonable doubt' which is the highest standard in the American criminal justice system. If the available evidence doesn't rise to this level of proof, then cannot ethically file charges."

The same press release explained that the decision not to pursue the domestic violence charge against Chigvintsev was made "after thorough review" and the "evaluation of the evidence" that was presented to the DA office after his August arrest.

Nikki Garcia's ex-husband was taken into police custody for "felony domestic violence" on August 29, two days after the former couple celebrated their second wedding anniversary. The former couple appeared to be on good terms as of August 27, with Chigvintsev sharing snaps from their Paris 2022 wedding on his Instagram and saying that Nikki Garcia is "my everything" in the caption.


Everything to know about Nikki Garcia's ex-husband, Artem Chigvintsev's arrest

News of Artem Chigvintsev's, Nikki Garcia's recently ex-husband, arrest came out on August 29 after an altercation with Garcia in their Napa County residence. A 911 dispatch tape reportedly revealed that the DWTS pro dancer made the call because he needed medical attention after Garcia allegedly threw a shoe at him.

Per the dispatcher, Chigvintsev later called back and said that "no medical is needed," but the paramedics were already en route. When cops arrived at their house, the police were "comfortable arresting him on felony domestic violence charges."

Henry Wofford, the Napa County Sheriff's Department Public Information Officer, mentioned in August that when a person is arrested for felony domestic violence, it means there was a credible eyewitness who saw visible injuries on the victim.

Per Wofford, the domestic violence victim requested privacy and had asked to keep her identity private. However, the Dancing with the Stars pro had reportedly mentioned "his wife" during the 911 call, providing context to the story. Although the DWTS star has been out of jail after paying a $25,000 bail on the afternoon of the day of his arrest, his marriage with Nikki Garcia didn't survive the ordeal.

The former professional wrestler officially filed for divorce on September 11 in Napa Valley, two weeks after Chigvintsev's domestic violence arrest. Before the news of the divorce broke, however, Nikki Garcia stopped wearing her wedding ring.

On August 31, she was photographed catching a private flight without her emerald engagement ring and wedding band. She also stepped out into her first public event after her former husband's arrest, Netflix's Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef on September 2, sans the rings.

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Edited by Ahana Mukhopadhyay
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