Artem Chigvintsev, the former Dancing with the Stars contestant, will not face criminal charges after his recent arrest on suspicion of domestic violence. Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley announced the decision on September 24, confirming that a thorough review of the investigation and evidence led to this conclusion.
On August 29, Chigvintsev, 42, was taken into custody in Napa Valley for alleged corporal injury to a spouse, just two days after celebrating his second wedding anniversary with wife Nikki Garcia. He was released later that day on a $25,000 bond.
In her press release, District Attorney Haley emphasized the ethical responsibility of her office to only file charges supported by sufficient evidence. “We take every arrest seriously and stand firmly against domestic violence,” she stated. “However, 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 we cannot ethically file charges.”
Despite the DA’s decision not to pursue charges at this time, Haley indicated that the case could be reopened if new information or evidence emerges.
On the day of his arrest, Chigvintsev made a 9-1-1 call alleging that Garcia had thrown shoes at him, prompting a request for medical assistance. Although it was never officially confirmed that Garcia was the spouse involved, a representative for her commented at the time, “This is a private matter and Nikki asks for privacy for her and her family at this time.”
In a significant turn of events, Garcia filed for divorce on September 11, two weeks after Chigvintsev’s arrest. In her divorce petition, she sought both legal and physical custody of their son, Matteo, born in July 2020, and requested that Chigvintsev be granted visitation rights. She cited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for the split and requested the termination of spousal support for both parties.
In response, Chigvintsev expressed his desire for joint custody of Matteo, along with spousal support and coverage of attorney fees.
The couple first met in 2017 while competing on Season 25 of Dancing with the Stars, where they finished in sixth place. They married in January 2023, with Garcia previously sharing her dream of motherhood, stating, “I can’t imagine life without being a mom and experiencing the miracle of life and raising a child.”
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