Artem Chigvintsev has broken his silence over his arrest on suspicion of felony domestic violence in Napa County, California on August 29.
On Wednesday, the former Dancing With the Stars pro, 42, released a statement, one day after prosecutors declined to file charges against him.
‘I am incredibly relieved and grateful that the domestic violence charges against me have been dropped,’ he told People. ‘This has been an extremely difficult time for me. I am thankful that the truth has prevailed. My focus has always been and will always be, our son Matteo.’
Chigvintsev explained that his four-year-old, who he shares with his estranged wife Nikki Garcia, is his ‘world’ and being ‘his father is the greatest blessing.’
‘All along, my main concern has been for him. I am committed to continuing to provide him with the love, support, and care he needs as we move forward,’ the reality star explained of his mindset following the arrest and ongoing divorce.
Artem Chigvintsev has broken his silence over his arrest on suspicion of felony domestic violence in Napa County, California on August 29
‘I am hopeful that securing an equal custody arrangement will help us move on,’ he shared. ‘I want to express my deepest gratitude to my family, friends, and legal team for standing by me during this challenging time. Your support has been invaluable, and I am thankful to everyone who believed in me and saw the truth for what it was.’
Chigvintsev concluded his statement by saying: ‘I look forward to moving past this chapter and focusing on what truly matters—continue being the best father I can be.’
Chigvintsev’s attorney, Ilona Antonyan, went on to note that her client is focused on ‘negotiating a shared 50/50 custody schedule.’
Since Garcia filed for divorce last month, he ‘has been able to spend time with Matteo almost every day since 8/29/2024 incident.’
Antonyan went on to describe Chigvintsev as a ‘very dedicated, interactive, nurturing, and loving parent.’
‘My understanding of the investigated facts surrounding the 8/29/24 incident have led me to conclude from the beginning that Artem was not the primary aggressor. I believe that to be true even if the burden of proof would be the preponderance of evidence, which is the standard of proof in family court. He was protecting himself and Matteo,’ she told People.
Although his lawyer pointed out that ‘ivorce is never easy,’ she expressed hope that ‘once custody is settled, the remaining issues tend to be less emotionally charged and easier to resolve.’
In the meantime, Chigvintsev remains ‘fully committed to fostering a positive co-parenting relationship with his ex.’
DailyMail.com has reached out to Chigvintsev and Garcia’s representatives, but have not heard back, at this time.
On Wednesday, the former Dancing With the Stars pro, 42, released a public statement after prosecutors declined to file charges against him
On Tuesday, Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley announced that her office has declined to file criminal charges against Chigvintsev, 42, in connection with his August 29 arrest on suspicion of felony domestic violence.
The decision to not file charges against Chigvintsev was made after a thorough review of the criminal investigation and careful evaluation of the evidence presented to the DA’s Office, officials said.
‘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 obtained by DailyMail.com.
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.’
Domestic violence can either be filed as a felony or a misdemeanor and has a statute of limitations of three years or one year, respectively.
At any time within the statute of limitations, the Napa County District Attorney’s Office may revisit the case if it learns of other incidents, or otherwise learns of facts or evidence not previously known.
Haley added that the Napa County District Attorney’s Victim Services Division works closely with victims of domestic violence and other crimes and links them to available resources whether charges are filed or not.
‘I am incredibly relieved and grateful that the domestic violence charges against me have been dropped,’ he told People. ‘This has been an extremely difficult time for me. I am thankful that the truth has prevailed. My focus has always been and will always be, our son Matteo’
Earlier this month, the Dancing With The Stars pro cited ‘irreconcilable differences’ as the reason for their split in his own divorce filing.
He listed the date of separation as August 29 – which was the same day that he was arrested for felony domestic violence charges following the alleged altercation at their home in Napa, California.
Chigvintsev has also requested for joint legal and physical custody of his and Nikki’s four-year-old son, Matteo. The Russian-born dancer has asked for spousal support, and also requested that Garcia pay for his legal fees.
In the filing, Artem claimed that he was a putative spouse between the dates of August 26, 2022 and January 19, 2023.
A putative spouse is an individual who believes they are legally married to someone, but the marriage itself is not valid.
Earlier this month, the Dancing With The Stars pro cited ‘irreconcilable differences’ as the reason for their split in his own divorce filing; seen with Nikki in 2019
Just days before the pro dancer was placed into handcuffs, the couple had marked their second wedding anniversary.
At the time, Chigvintsev shared a heartfelt message in an Instagram post that read, ‘Happy anniversary my love, can’t see my life without you. You are my everything.’