No Charges Filed In Artem Chigvintsev Domestic Violence Arrest: DA

NAPA COUNTY, CA — The Napa County District Attorney's Office has declined to file charges against Artem Chigvinstev of "Dancing With The Stars" in connection with his recent arrest for suspected domestic violence.

Deputies with the Napa County Sheriff's Department responded to a domestic violence call Aug. 29 at Chigvinstev's residence in Yountville. According to a news report, sheriff's Spokesman Henry Wofford said it was apparent there was potential abuse, and Chigvintsev was arrested.

Chigvintsev, 42, cooperated with deputies and was briefly jailed at the Napa County Detention Center on suspicion of felony domestic violence.

In a statement issued Tuesday, Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley said the decision not to file charges was made after a "thorough review of the criminal investigation and careful evaluation of the evidence presented to the DA's Office."

"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. "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."

At the time of Chigvinstev's arrest, Wofford told The Associated Press he could not release any information about the alleged victim or the person's relationship to Chigvinstev but said the sheriff's office does not charge people with the offense of domestic violence unless there is a credible witness or apparent markings that suggest abuse.

Patch did not immediately hear back on an emailed request for comment Tuesday to the Napa County Sheriff's Office.

Domestic violence can be filed as a felony or a misdemeanor and has a statute of limitations of three years or one year, respectively. The case may be revisited if the DA's Office learns of other incidents or otherwise learns of facts or evidence not previously known at any time during the statute of limitations.

The DA's Office has a Victim Services Division that works closely with victims of domestic violence and other crimes and links them to available resources — regardless of whether charges were filed.

"The Napa County District Attorney’s Office does not typically issue press releases when it declines to file charges against any given individual; however, did so for this case due to the intense media interest it has received since Mr. Chigvintsev’s arrest," DA's Office Spokesperson Carlos Villatoro said.

Chigvinstev is a professional dancer originally from Russia who joined the "Dancing With The Stars" cast in 2014. He came to the United States in 2003 and now has American citizenship. In 2022, he married Nikki "Bella" Garcia, a professional former WWE wrestler and TV personality.

Following his arrest Aug. 29 in Napa County, Chigvinstev was released on $25,000 bail the same day.

Less than two weeks later, Garcia reportedly filed for divorce, which would mark the end of Chigvinstev's third marriage.

Villatoro said the DA's Office has no plans to disclose the alleged victim's identity or provide any other further information in the case.