Nearly one month before Hayden Panettiere’s tragic death, her longtime on-and-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, asked Los Angeles County Superior Court to clear his criminal record tied to domestic abuse charges involving the actress.
Court records show that Judge Olivia Rosales rejected Hickerson’s request in a minute order filed August 13, according to documents reviewed by Our News Outlet. The denial came just three days before Panettiere was found dead.
Hickerson was first charged in July 2020 with eight felony and misdemeanor counts connected to alleged incidents involving him and Panettiere.
In August 2022, he pleaded no contest to two felony counts, while the remaining six charges were dismissed. As part of the resolution, Hickerson was sentenced to four years of probation.
The conditions of that probation required Hickerson to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings “at the minimum rate of 1 per week,” according to court filings. He was also ordered to complete anger management sessions.
The Daily Mail has contacted Hickerson’s attorney and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office seeking additional comment on the matter.
Brian Hickerson, Hayden Panettiere’s on-again, off-again boyfriend, sought to reduce prior felony charges against him just three days before her tragic death.
Records reviewed by Our News Outlet show Hickerson had previously filed two petitions to dismiss the case, one on June 27 in a delayed hearing and another on July 18.
Hickerson completed his probation on August 1. Last week, he filled a petition with the court to change those felony charges to misdemeanors. He also asked the court to expunge the charges from his record.
Prosecutors sought to block both of Hickerson’s attempts to have the charges knocked down to misdemeanors in the Thursday hearing, according to documents reviewed by Our News Outlet.
Hickerson had filed two earlier petitions to dismiss the case, on July 18 and on June 27 (in a hearing which was delayed), according to records reviewed by Our News Outlet.
Hickerson said in legal docs that he had finished his probation in requesting the court dismiss the case.
He was charged with domestic violence in May of 2019, with Panettiere receiving a protective order in the case – as the charges were eventually dropped.
In July of 2020, he was arrested in connection with eight charges of domestic violence linked to multiple incidents that occurred in the timeframe between May of 2019 and January of 2020.
He eventually entered a no contest plea to a pair of felony counts of injuring a partner in April of 2021, with the rest of the charges dropped.
In 2021, he received a 45-day sentence in county jail, along with four years of probation, attendance at 52 domestic violence courses and a restraining order lasting five years.
Hickerson spent 33 days in Los Angeles Men’s Central Jail following a credit for 12 days served, the outlet reported, according to sheriff’s records viewed by Our News Outlet.
This past May, he spoke with TMZ about past instances of domestic violence and abuse in his relationship with the actress, which she detailed in her memoir released that month, titled This Is Me: A Reckoning.
‘I got arrested for abusing her, and I wouldn’t blame her friends for being pissed off with me, so I don’t really have much to say on that,’ said Hickerson, who was first linked to the late actress in 2018. ‘You never lay hands on a woman, bottom line.’
Hickerson had attempted to reduce his past charges in the days before Panettiere’s passing. The late actress pictured in 2022
After the arrest, Panettiere put out a statement saying she hoped she could serve as an example for others in a similar situation.
She said, ‘I am coming forward with the truth about what happened to me in the hope that my story will empower others in abusive relationships to get the help they need and deserve.’
Hickerson in May told the outlet that he remained in regular contact with Panettiere, and harbored hope they could resume their romance at some point.
He added, ‘Hayden is one of the most talented people I’ve ever met in my life.’
