Slava Voynov pleaded no contest last Thursday to a domestic violence charge, resulting in a

misdemeanor conviction and a 90-day jail sentence.

The domestic violence charge arose out of an incident last October when Mr. Voynov allegedly engaged in a physical altercation with his wife, Marta Varlamova. Ms. Varlamova required stitches for injuries incurred during the dispute.

Mr. Voynov was originally charged with a felony, but the charge—as often occurs during plea negotiations—was reduced to a misdemeanor in exchange for Mr. Voynov’s plea. While Mr. Voynov will have to serve at least half of his jail sentence, the Sheriff’s Department will determine how much time he will serve after that.

In addition to the jail time, Mr. Voynov will have to complete probation and a domestic violence counseling program, as well as pay fines and perform community service.

The trial of Mr. Voynov was scheduled to start next week. It is unclear whether Ms. Varlamova would have testified against her husband, if the case proceeded to trial.

Criminal convictions have immigration consequences, including the risk of deportation, for non-citizens. The immigration consequences Mr. Voynov’s plea will have for him personally remains to be seen.

Because criminal convictions have many consequences and can result in the deprivation of many important civic rights, it is critical to talk with a criminal defense attorney if you or someone you know is facing criminal charges.

Contact the Law Office of Ronald G. Brower to speak with an experienced Southern California criminal defense attorney.