Dancing With the Stars' Artem Chigvintsev Not Charged After Domestic Violence Arrest

Artem Chigvintsev's legal battle is over for now. 

Almost a month after the Dancing With the Stars alum was arrested on suspicion of felony domestic violence, prosecutors said they will not file criminal charges against him, according to a Sept. 24 press release from Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley.

"The decision to not file charges against Mr. Chigvintsev was made after a thorough review of the criminal investigation," the release stated, "and careful evaluation of the evidence presented to the DA’s Office."

The Napa County District Attorney’s Office added that it will not be releasing any further information on the case—including the identity of the alleged victim—but may revisit the case if it "learns of other incidents, or otherwise learns of facts or evidence not previously known."

“While we take every arrest seriously and stand firmly against domestic violence, we have an ethical obligation to only file charges when supported by the evidence,” Haley said in a statement. “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.”

Chigvintsev—who has been married to former WWE star Nikki Garcia since 2022—was arrested in Napa on Aug. 29, with online records listing his charge as California penal code section 273.5 (a)PC, which pertains to violence against a spouse or another cohabitant. The 42-year-old was later released on $25,000 bail. 

He has not yet publicly addressed his arrest. E! News has reached out to reps for Garcia and Chigvintsev on the DA's decision but has not received a comment.

One day after Chigvintsev was arrested, Garcia's rep spoke out to ask for privacy for the wrestler, who previously competed under the name Nikki Bella. 

"This is a private matter," her rep told E! News in an Aug. 30 statement, "and Nikki asks for privacy for her and her family at this time."

And while his criminal case is not moving forward, Garcia and Chigvintsev—who share 4-year-old son Matteo—are still in the middle of another court battle: She filed for divorce from the dancer on Sept. 11, requesting legal and physical custody of their son in the legal docs. For Chigvintsev’s part, he requested spousal support as well as joint legal and physical custody of Matteo in his Sept. 13 response to the filing.

In the wake of the split, her sister Brie Garcia noted that the family appreciates the support they've received.

"She sees all the support and love," she said on the Sept. 23 episode of their Nikki & Brie podcast, "and we’re always grateful for all of your love and support, so thank you all for that.”

Read on for a breakdown of Chigvintsev's domestic violence case.

Artem Chigvintsev was arrested shortly before 10 a.m. on Aug. 29, Napa County Sheriff’s Office’s Public Information Officer Henry Wofford confirmed to E! News.

Wofford noted the Dancing With the Stars pro did not was resist and was taken to the Napa County Department of Corrections. Chigvintsev was booked on a charge of felony domestic violence with a bail set at $25,000, per online records.

The professional dancer posted bail and was released from custody at 2:18 p.m. on Aug.29, Wofford confirmed to E! News. A court date has yet to be announced.

While Wofford told NBC News Chigvintsev was arrested in Yountville, Calif, he did not reveal the exact location due to a request for privacy from the alleged victim. 

As a result of this request, he added, the Sheriff is also not releasing the name, gender or age of the alleged victim or the individual’s relationship to Chigvintsev. However, Wofford did have this to say about the arrest.

“When someone is charged with felony domestic violence usually this means there is a visible injury or credible eyewitness,” he told E! News, “our deputies felt comfortable arresting him on felony domestic violence charges.”

“Of course this could change with more evidence that might come through,” Wofford continued, “but at the time of the arrest the deputies felt it was a felony charge instead of a misdemeanor."

He also shared why victims may choose to keep personal information private in these cases.

“Some victims may not feel comfortable sharing all details at time the suspect is arrested,” Wofford noted. “Some victims feel embarrassed, threatened, or fear the incident may impact their family.  We have to give victims adequate time and support, which help them realize we are here to help.”

In an audio recording shared by TMZ Aug. 30, a dispatcher can be heard saying Chigvintsev had initially called 911 to request medical attention after an argument in which shoes were allegedly thrown at him. However, the dispatcher said the 42-year-old later stated that medical help was no longer needed.

Still, Wofford said authorities continued with their check.

“For domestic violence, if someone picks up the phone and says, ‘You don’t have to come after all,’ we’re still going to go for a welfare check," he told Page Six. "We’re not just going to stop what we’re doing."

As of Aug. 30, Chigvintsev has yet to speak publicly on the arrest or 911 call. E! News has reached out to his rep for comment but has yet to hear back.

Chigvintsev’s arrest came less than three weeks prior to Dancing With the Stars’ season 33 premiere. However, the past Mirrorball winner—who’s appeared on 12 seasons of the competition series—was not set to be a part of this season’s cast, Page Six and Variety reported. 

E! News has reached out to ABC for comment but has yet to hear back.

A rep for Nikki Garcia—who met Chigvintsev when they were paired together on season 25 of Dancing With the Stars in 2017—spoke out about his arrest the day after his booking and release.

"This is a private matter,” the rep told E! News Aug. 30, “and Nikki asks for privacy for her and her family at this time."

Chigvintsev’s arrest came three days after he and Garcia—who share 4-year-old son Matteo—celebrated their second wedding anniversary.

“Happy anniversary my love,” the ballroom dancer wrote on Instagram Aug. 26. “can’t see my life with out you. You are my everything.”

In her own post, the former WWE star quoted the lyrics from Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” and posted throwback footage of the couple in Paris, where they got married in 2022.

“This song is our love story,” she wrote in the caption. “I’ll never forget where I was when I asked Jesus about Artem. Having a conversation with He & God. How my feelings felt too soon. It all felt too fast. And then this song came on. And that’s when I knew that I was falling in love with him and that it was all meant to be. Happy Anniversary @theartemc I love you!”

Shortly after Chigvintsev’s arrest, Cheryl Burke—who retired as a Dancing With the Stars pro in 2022 after 26 seasons on the show—shared her reaction to the news. 

Noting Chigvintsev is someone she grew up with and lived with at one time, Burke said on her podcast Sex, Lies and Spray Tans that she was in “complete shock” over his arrest. 

“My heart goes out to everyone involved,” she shared on the Aug. 30 episode, noting it was recorded the day before. “It’s just really hard for me because he was my family. I don’t know what to say here other than I hope everybody’s OK.” 

In a clip of her podcast posted to TikTok, Burke also shared resources.

Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley shared on Sept. 24, 2024, that her office will not be filing charges against Chigvintsev following a "thorough review of the criminal investigation and careful evaluation of the evidence presented to the DA’s Office."

“If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available,” she wrote in the caption. “Consider calling the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233, or text START to 88788, or go to…https://www.thehotline.org/.” 

For more information on domestic abuse or to get help for yourself or someone you love, visit the website for The National Domestic Violence Hotline (http://www.thehotline.org/) or call 1-800-799-7233.

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