Slava Voynov returns to Russia
Kings defenseman Slava Voynov, left, attends his arraignment last December in Los Angeles County Superior Court in Torrance.
Slava Voynov left U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody and returned to Russia over the weekend, in what might signal the end of the saga surrounding the Kings defenseman.
A U.S. immigration judge granted Voynov voluntary departure last week, an ICE spokeswoman said.
The agency took Voynov into custody Sept. 2. He had previously served almost two months at the Seal Beach Police Detention Center after his no contest plea in July to a misdemeanor domestic violence charge stemming from an altercation with his wife.
After Voynov remained in custody at an unspecified ICE detention facility and faced lengthy deportation proceedings, the 25-year-old announced last week that he would return to his native Russia.
The Kings planned to terminate Voynov’s $25-million contract, but his decision to leave made the move unnecessary.
Twitter: @nathanfenno
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