Brian Hickerson, the on-again, off-again boyfriend of the late Hayden Panettiere, had his petition to dismiss felony charges related to domestic abuse denied by a judge three days before Panettiere's death. The dismissal attempt was made on August 13 at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles, according to records.
This was not the first time Hickerson sought to have the charges dismissed. Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office confirmed that Judge Olivia Rosales denied his petition. Previous attempts to dismiss the case were made on July 18 and June 27, the latter of which was delayed.
Hickerson was first linked to Panettiere in 2018. He was charged with domestic violence in May 2019, and Panettiere received a protective order. Those charges were later dropped. In July 2020, Hickerson was arrested again in connection with eight charges of domestic violence.
He ultimately pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring a partner in April 2021, with the remaining charges dismissed. Hickerson served 13 days in custody following this arrest.
In May, Hickerson addressed past instances of domestic violence in his relationship with Panettiere, stating, "You never lay hands on a woman, bottom line." He also mentioned remaining in contact with Panettiere and hoping to resume their relationship.
Following her past experiences, Panettiere released a statement expressing hope that her story could serve as an example for others in similar situations. "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," she said.