Brian Hickerson suffered a legal setback just days before the death of actress Hayden Panettiere, with a Los Angeles judge rejecting his request to reduce two felony domestic violence convictions to misdemeanors. The ruling came on August 13, 2026, three days before Panettiere died at age 36. The case stems from multiple incidents involving the former couple between 2019 and 2020.
According to court documents reported by TMZ and confirmed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office to Page Six, Judge Olivia Rosales also denied Hickerson’s request to expunge the convictions. The prosecution opposed both requests.
Judge Rejects Hickerson’s Latest Legal Requests
Hickerson pleaded no contest in April 2021 to two felony counts of injuring a spouse, girlfriend or cohabitant after initially facing an eight-count criminal case. He was sentenced to 45 days in jail, serving 33 days, along with four years of probation, mandatory domestic violence classes and a five-year restraining order.
His latest petitions sought to change the classification of the convictions and remove them from his record. The court rejected both requests during the August 13 hearing, leaving the felony convictions intact.
The ruling came as Panettiere’s past relationship with Hickerson was again receiving public attention following her death. In May 2026, Panettiere discussed her history with Hickerson while promoting her memoir This Is Me: A Reckoning, describing the experience of domestic abuse as deeply difficult. Us Weekly reported that she called the subject “a very embarrassing” one while reflecting on what happened.
Panettiere’s Death Remains Under Investigation
Panettiere died on August 16 after being found unresponsive at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina. Emergency responders attempted resuscitation before she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities have said there were no signs of trauma, and police have not indicated that foul play was suspected. The official cause and manner of death remain under investigation, according to the Greenville County Coroner’s Office as reported by People.
The timing of Hickerson’s court ruling has drawn attention because of its proximity to Panettiere’s death, but there is no reported connection between the legal decision and the circumstances of her death. Hickerson’s legal case concerns the earlier domestic violence convictions, while authorities continue investigating Panettiere’s death separately.
Panettiere was known for roles in Heroes, Nashville and the Scream franchise, leaving behind a career that began during childhood and spanned more than three decades. Her death at 36 has prompted tributes from former co-stars and colleagues across Hollywood.
