Russian Olympian hockey player Slava Voynov, who plays for the Los Angeles Kings NHL hockey team, has been charged with felony domestic violence against his wife.
Voynov faces one felony count of spousal abuse with a maximum penalty of nine years in prison. If convicted, he also could be deported.
Prosecutors say Voynov “caused his wife to suffer injuries to her eyebrow, check, and neck” during an argument at their home in October.
Voynov has been suspended from the NHL since his arrest early on October 20 at a California hospital where he took his wife for treatment.
Voynov’s attorney, Craig Renetzky, says his client didn’t hit his wife.
Renetzky blames the charges on a misunderstanding between police and Voynov’s wife, who speaks very little English.
Voynov, who played on Russia’s team at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, faces arraignment on December 1.
