Slava Voynov faces a maximum of nine years in prison if convicted as charged.
Los Angeles Kings defenseman Slava Voynov has been charged with one felony count of corporal injury to a spouse, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County district attorney office announced on Thursday.
The district attorney's office released a statement saying that Voynov faces a maximum sentence of nine years in state prison if convicted as charged. Voynov will be arraigned on Dec. 1.
Voynov was arrested on Oct. 20 on domestic violence charges when police were called to a hospital where an individual believed to be Voynov's wife was being treated for injuries. The hospital staff were the ones who alerted the police that their presence was needed and Voynov was ultimately charged under section 273.5 of California's penal code. Police would not confirm that the individual was Voynov's spouse but indicated that "a certain relationship was required" to be charged under section 273.5.
The Redondo Beach jail released Voynov later that day on $50,000 bound. The NHL immediately suspended Voynov indefinitely and he has not participated in hockey-related activities since. In total he has missed 13 games.
Michael J. Walsh, the lawyer for Marta Varlamova, Voynov's wife, released a statement on the DA's actions against the Kings defenseman as Katie Strang of ESPN shared:
"Marta was stunned by the news today and she is devastated," Walsh said in a statement. "She did not believe, and does not believe, that her husband intended to injure her and she believes that he is not guilty of any crime. She is worried about her family's privacy and concerned that she and her family are going to be subjected to ridicule, embarrassment and hatred because of this decision. In fact, she has already seen that beginning to happen. It is unfortunate that no one seemed to care what she wants, and that the authorities gave little or no weight to her view of the facts of the case. Despite this unwelcome news, she still expects her husband to be cleared of any criminal wrongdoing."