MOSCOW, November 26 (RAPSI) – Los Angeles Kings defenseman Slava Voynov will plead not guilty at a hearing on domestic violence that is scheduled for December 1, R-Sport reported on Wednesday, citing the hockey players’ attorney Craig Renetzky.

On November 20, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed felony charges against Voynov following his arrest on suspicion of battery against his spouse, who suffered harm to her “eyebrow, cheek and neck.”

If convicted as charged, the hockey player could spend up to nine years in prison. “Mr. Voynov maintains his innocence and looks forward to clearing his name in court,” Renetzky said.

Voynov, 24, was arrested at a hospital in Torrance, California, in October after accompanying his wife, Marta Varlamova, to seek medical treatment. Voynov, who was suspended by the NHL for the duration of the criminal investigation, has been released on $50,000 bail.

Voynov’s wife previously said through her attorney that she didn’t want to press charges against the defenseman. However, California authorities are allowed to prosecute a domestic violence suspect regardless of an abused spouse’s lack of cooperation.

According to her attorney, Varlamova was worried about her family’s privacy and concerned that she and her family would be subjected to ridicule, embarrassment and disdain because of this decision. She said that her husband had not intended to injure her and she believes that he is not guilty of any crime.