LOS ANGELES — Kings defenseman Slava Voynov was charged with felony domestic violence on Thursday by the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.
Voynov faces one felony count of corporal injury to a spouse with great bodily injury. In a statement providing the first public details of the incident, the district attorney’s office said Voynov “caused his wife to suffer injuries to her eyebrow, cheek and neck” during an argument at their home, several hours after the Kings won an afternoon game.
The 24-year-old Russian Olympian has been suspended since his arrest early Oct. 20 at a hospital in Torrance, California. He had taken his wife to the hospital for treatment of injuries from their home in nearby Redondo Beach.
Craig Renetzky, Voynov’s attorney, has repeatedly said his client didn’t hit his wife. Renetzky also said Voynov shouldn’t have been arrested, blaming a misunderstanding between police and Voynov’s wife, who speaks even less English than her husband.
“Mr. Voynov is extremely disappointed that the district attorney’s office elected to file charges,” Renetzky said in a statement. “Mr. Voynov maintains his innocence and looks forward to clearing his name in court.”
Voynov was suspended indefinitely by the NHL before he even posted bail on the morning of his arrest. The Kings have wholeheartedly supported the league’s disciplinary actions. “We are aware of the actions taken today in California, which we will review and evaluate before making any decisions,” NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said. “Until further notice, the current terms of Mr. Voynov’s suspension remain in place.”
Voynov isn’t allowed to practice or play for the team, but he has been skating at the Kings’ training complex after their practices, sometimes under the supervision of an assistant coach. Voynov will be arraigned Dec. 1 in Torrance.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of nine years in prison. Voynov is a two-time Stanley Cup champion who also played for Russia at the Sochi Olympics. He will miss his 14th straight game Thursday night when the Kings host Carolina.
Through her own attorney, Voynov’s wife previously said she didn’t want charges filed against the defenseman, but California authorities aren’t required to consider such wishes when deciding to file charges.
Thumbnail photo via Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports Images
