Hayden Panettiere's on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson tried to expunge felony charges for abusing her… but  judge threw out attempt THREE DAYS before her death

Nearly a month before her tragic death, the late Hayden Panettiere’s on-again-off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson filed a petition with the Los Angeles County Superior Court to expunge his criminal record of domestic abuse charges involving the actress.

According to a minute order filed on August 13 and reviewed by the Daily Mail, Judge Olivia Rosales denied Hickerson’s petition, just three days before Panettiere was found dead from what officials described as a 'suspected overdose.'

Hickerson initially was charged in July 2020 on eight felony and misdemeanor counts in connection with incidents involving him and Panettiere.

In August of 2022, Hickerson pleaded 'no contest' to two felony counts, as the other six counts were dropped, and he was placed on four years probation.

Under his probation terms, Hickerson was ordered to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings 'at the minimum rate of one per week,' according to court records; he also had to complete a series of anger management sessions.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Hickerson's lawyer and the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office for further comment on the story. 

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 the Daily Mail.

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 the Daily Mail.  

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, according to sheriff's records viewed by the Daily Mail. 

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. 

He added, 'You never lay hands on a woman, bottom line.'

In the interview with the outlet, Hickerson referenced one horrifying story that Panettiere detailed in her memoir.

He said, 'There’s a story where I was drunk, right? Hayden was standing across the room and I had a phone in my hand and I said, "Hayden, I’ll give you 10 seconds to run as fast as you can before I throw it at you."' 

Hickerson continued, 'Who wants to read something about themselves, right? But you gotta be vulnerable and I did it. I did it, so.'

He said he was in 'such a dark place' involving 'drugs' and 'alcohol,' adding, 'Good God, almighty, she’s five foot two on paper, four-foot-11 in real life. I mean, come on.'

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 TMZ 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.' 

Authorities in Greenville, South Carolina pronounced Panettiere dead at 36 on Sunday afternoon following a suspected overdose, adding that a 'preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances.'