Artem Chigvintsev, the “Dancing with the Stars” pro who faced accusations of attacking his wife, Nikki Garcia, is now shifting his focus to custody matters after the charges were dropped due to insufficient evidence.
Chigvintsev was arrested on August 29, 2024, under California Penal Code section 273.5(a) PC, which pertains to domestic violence. He was released on bail the same day. The incident reportedly involved a physical altercation with his wife, former WWE wrestler Nikki Garcia (formerly Nikki Bella). Just days after the incident, Garcia sought a divorce attorney and officially filed for divorce on September 11, 2024, also requesting full legal and physical custody of their 4-year-old son, Matteo.
Despite the serious nature of the allegations, the case has now taken a significant turn. On September 25, Chigvintsev’s attorney, Ilona Antonyan of Antonyan Miranda, LLP, confirmed to E! News that the domestic violence charges against Chigvintsev had been dropped due to insufficient evidence.
Antonyan also revealed that Chigvintsev is now concentrating on negotiating a shared custody agreement with Garcia. “Artem is fully committed to fostering a positive co-parenting relationship with his ex,” said Antonyan. “Divorce is never easy, but once custody is settled, the remaining issues tend to be less emotionally charged and easier to resolve.”
Chigvintsev is reportedly seeking a 50/50 custody arrangement with Garcia and has requested financial support from her, including covering his legal fees. His lawyer emphasized that Chigvintsev remains a dedicated father, actively involved in his son’s life. “He is a very dedicated, interactive, nurturing, and loving parent,” Antonyan shared, adding that Chigvintsev has been spending time with his son since the alleged incident on August 29.
For their part, Nikki Garcia has not publicly commented on the dropped charges, but her request for full custody suggests the couple is far from resolving their divorce and custody issues. Garcia and Chigvintsev, who first met while competing together on “Dancing with the Stars,” share their son Matteo, born in 2020.
In his statement to the media, Chigvintsev expressed relief that the domestic violence charges were dismissed. “I am incredibly relieved and grateful that the domestic violence charges against me have been dropped,” he said. “This has been an extremely difficult time for me. I am thankful that the truth has prevailed.”
Though the legal battle continues, the couple now appears focused on settling custody matters for the sake of their son.
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