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Slava Voynov Suspended, Charged Following Arrest: Latest Details and Reaction
Kings forward Slava Voynov faces trial for domestic violence charges stemming from an October arrest. The winger is currently suspended indefinitely.
Continue for updates.
Update from Wednesday, April 1
Nathan Fenno of the Los Angeles Times reported that Voynov's trial has been delayed until July 6. The trial had been previously delayed from March 2 to April 21.
Update from Monday, March 2
Voynov's trial has been delayed until next Tuesday, via Nathan Fenno of the Los Angeles Times. Fenno reported that the delay is due to a scheduling conflict with the prosecutor.
Update from Thursday, Jan. 29
Nathan Fenno of the Los Angeles Times provided details on motions filed by Slava Voynov's attorneys as the proceedings against him continue:
Update from Wednesday, Jan. 28
Craig Renetzky, Voynov's defense attorney provided an update on the timeline for the winger's trial:
Updates from Monday, Dec. 29
Nathan Fenno of the Los Angeles Times provided an update on the legal issues surrounding Slava Voynov:
Craig Renetzky, Voynov's lawyer, later provided more information on the future proceedings:
Updates from Monday, Dec. 15
Nathan Fenno of the Los Angeles Times provided a synopsis of the Redondo Beach police officer discussing details of the incident at court today:
Elliott Teaford of InsideSoCal.com reported on Voynov's court date:
Updates from Tuesday, Dec. 2
According to a report on NHL.com, the Kings have been fined $100,000 for violating Slava Voynov's ban:
The Los Angeles Kings have been fined $100,000 for violating the terms of defenseman Slava Voynov's suspension, the National Hockey League announced today.
Voynov skated with teammates today during a Club practice. Such activity is in direct contravention of the terms of the suspension levied Oct. 20, which permit Mr. Voynov to use club facilities and work with team personnel but prohibit his participation in any team-related functions or activities.
The Kings released a statement on the fine via the team's official website:
This was clearly a mistake on our part and we accept full responsibility. It is incumbent upon us to be more vigilant in managing this situation to ensure that Slava’s allowable training activities always remain separate from the team.
Voynov will miss his 19th game tonight. Chris Johnston of Sportsnet details how rare a suspension this long occurs in the NHL:
Updates from Monday, Dec. 1
Rich Hammond of the Orange Country Register reported the latest on Slava Voynov's legal issues:
Updates from Friday, Nov. 21
Steohen Whyno of The Canadian Press has the latest on Voynov:
Updates from Thursday, Nov. 20
TSN Hockey provides an update on Slava Voynov's case:
Lisa Dillman of the Los Angeles Times and Katie Strang of ESPN provides a statement from Voynov's lawyer:
Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports passes along comments from Bill Daly:
Inside So Cal Sports has more details on how long Voynov could face in prison if convicted:
Updates from Tuesday, Nov. 11
Katie Strang of ESPN has an update on Slava Voynov's case:
Updates from Monday, Nov. 3
Lisa Dillman of the Los Angeles Times passed along the latest comments from Slava Voynov's lawyer:
Updates from Sunday, Oct. 26
Helene Elliott of the Los Angeles Times provides a statement from attorney Michael J. Walsh of Irvine discussing Marta Varlamova's hopes for the progression of Slava Voynov's case:
Marta Varlamova, wife of suspended Kings defenseman Slava Voynov, has resumed living with him in the couple’s Redondo Beach home and does not want him to be charged in connection with the incident that led police to arrest him Oct. 20 on suspicion of domestic violence, her attorney said Saturday night.
'She’s not asking for charges to be pressed. She’s not hoping that the police are going to prosecute the case because she doesn’t think that Slava was trying to hurt her and doesn’t think a crime was committed against her.'
Updates from Friday, Oct. 24
Nick Cotsonika of Yahoo! Sports provides information from the lawyer representing the woman in the Slava Voynov case:
Updates from Wednesday, Oct. 22
Lisa Dillman of the Los Angeles Times provides an update on Slava Voynov's potential charges:
Nicholas Cotsonika of Yahoo Sports reports on the timeline for Voynov's suspension, courtesy of NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly:
“No more clarity on timing. Process and timeline will be dictated, at least in part, by how the player decides to proceed vis-a-vis the ongoing criminal investigation. It is possible the league process could be accelerated and completed before the full legal process plays out, but it’s also possible that it may not.”
Ken Campbell of TheHockeyNews.com passed along comments from Slava Voynov's lawyer following his arrest:
The lawyer for Los Angeles Kings defenseman Slava Voynov said he interviewed the victim of Voynov’s alleged domestic abuse incident for more than an hour Tuesday and, 'it’s clear to me there was no crime here,' and doubts his client will even be charged with an offense.
Craig Renetzky, a criminal lawyer who is representing Voynov in the matter, said the language barrier, both on the part of Voynov and the alleged victim, has created a misunderstanding and that the victim’s injuries that caused her to be hospitalized were the result of an accident. Voynov was arrested early Monday morning at a Los Angeles area hospital after staff at the hospital notified police of a possible domestic abuse case. Voynov was immediately suspended indefinitely by the NHL, but has yet to be charged with anything pending a police investigation.
'Hopefully, the police will get that,' Renetzky said. 'And we’re hoping the NHL looks at the new evidence and will lift the suspension. What the police will find out when they talk to her is that the action was not related to Mr. Voynov. I can’t go into complete details, but Mr. Voynov never hit the woman. This is really just a pure accident and we’re going to provide them with some additional evidence we hope they’ll present to the District Attorney’s office. And if they do, based on my experience, they don’t have a case.
'I think if the authorities act properly and do a complete investigation, they will have to find that charges are not warranted.'
Original Text
Los Angeles Kings defenseman Slava Voynov has become the latest professional athlete to be charged with domestic violence, per ESPN.com, in what has become a troubling trend. The NHL has acted swiftly, however, suspending him indefinitely.
ESPN.com shared details of the arrest:
Voynov was arrested at 3:45 a.m. ET (12:45 a.m. PT) on Monday by Redondo Beach police, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department website, courtesy of ESPN.com. Sgt. Paul Ribitzki of the Redondo Beach PD said that Voyanov's court date is set for Oct. 22 in Torrance. He did not provide additional details.
The Los Angeles Times said Voynov's bail amount was set at $50,000.
TMZ.com's Staff reported additional details on the incident:
The woman who was allegedly attacked by L.A. Kings star Slava Voynov was injured so badly, she was rushed to the hospital ... where staffers called the cops on Voynov ... TMZ Sports has learned.
[...]
We're told Voynov had accompanied the woman to the hospital -- and shortly after they arrived, hospital staffers called authorities to report Voynov as the person suspected of attacking the woman.
The Kings released a statement on Voynov's suspension Monday afternoon:
These developments are of great concern to our organization. We support the NHL’s decision to suspend Slava Voynov indefinitely during this process, and we will continue to take appropriate action as the legal proceedings and the investigation by the NHL take their course.
Stephen Whyno of The Canadian Press weighed in on the NHL's response:
Whyno was referencing Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov, who was charged with assaulting his girlfriend last year, although the charges were later dropped.
Voynov's agent, Rolland Hedges, was unable to discuss the situation when ESPN.com contacted him Monday morning:
'I'm sorry, I really can't,' he told ESPN.com.
Hedges said he was working on gathering more information about the situation.
Last month, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman spoke on the league's responsibilities to handle such matters, courtesy of Reuters' Frank Pingue:
Our code of conduct is we expect you to do the right things and if you don't we hold you accountable. More important than that is I believe you need to be proactive. ...
... We have an obligation as a sport to try and do the right things.
Sports can be a great vehicle for positive social change, whether or not its inclusiveness, diversity, or AIDS ... I've always believed that we need to be in front of these things and sometimes you need to punish but more importantly it's better to educate and counsel.
It would appear the NHL has learned lessons from the NFL, responding to Voynov's case with more immediacy. Per ESPN.com, the NHL's collective bargaining agreement allows the league to suspend Voynov while investigating his criminal case, though he will be paid during the suspension.
