In July, Artem Chigvintsev, the husband of Nikki Garcia, was arrested and charged with corporal injury to a spouse, a felony that could’ve seen him face years in prison. This week, it was confirmed that Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley has declined to file criminal charges, after a thorough review of the investigation.
In a statement to PEOPLE, Chigvintse, best known for his work on Dancing with The Stars shared his relief that he will not be facing charges over what allegedly transpired in August.
“I am incredibly relieved and grateful that the domestic violence charges against me have been dropped. 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. He is my world, and being his father is the greatest blessing in my life. 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.
“I am hopeful that securing an equal custody arrangement will help us move on. 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. 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, also provided a statement, adding that the goal now is to focus on a 50/50 custody schedule of Matteo between Artem and Garcia. Chigvintsev has been seeking joint custody of his and Nikki’s son, while she has sought sole custody with Chigvintsev being given visitation rights.
Antonyan adds that the investigation has proven that Chigvintsev was not the aggressor in the incident that led to his arrest.
“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.”
A representative for Nikki Garcia, known to WWE fans as Nikki Bella, did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment. While the couple intends to divorce, the hope now is that both sides can do what is best for seven-year-old Matteo.
