PHOTOSHayden Panettiere's Boyfriend Brian Hickerson Facing Felony Domestic Violence Charge After Allegedly Abusing Her 3 Times In 2 Days
July 10 2019, Published 11:22 p.m. ET
Hayden Panettiere's boyfriend Brian Hickerson is facing a felony charge of domestic violence following his arrest on May 2, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge ruled on Wednesday, July 10, RadarOnline.com reported. The judge felt there was enough evidence to prove Brian physically assaulted the actress on more than one occasion.
Brian, 30, appeared in a Los Angeles court on July 10 and kept quiet as an LAPD officer testified about the details surrounding the May 2 fight between the couple.
Officer Amber Findley said that after she responded to a call from their L.A. home around 1:45 a.m., she could hear a female voice say, "Ow, ow, ow! You're hurting me!" Brian answered the door and initially claimed he was home alone with the dogs before letting officers inside.
Amber found Hayden, 29, in an upstairs bedroom and proceeded to question her about the altercation.
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"Right off the bat, I noticed that she had bruising on her eyelids, a swollen face. She did have marks on her neck, the left side. When I continued to talk to her she removed the sweater that she had on. I saw bruising on both her arms," Amber testified.
The Nashville star told the officer that she and Brian had been drinking in Hollywood earlier in the night, and when they arrived home he hit her three times in the face with open palm on the doorstep. The TV star also revealed that Brian had abused her just one day earlier during a separate argument in Puerto Rico.
The officer continued, "The third time, he caused her nose to bleed. They continued to argue within the residence, and one point the victim went upstairs to the master bedroom to go to sleep. The defendant got on top of her and with hands grabbed her on the left and right side of her face. The victim described the altercation as they began to grapple. He was on top of her and grabbed her face, I believe by the hair. They began to grapple and then she extended her arm outwards to gain distance."
Brian's lawyers were denied when they asked the judge to dismiss the charge. They went on to ask the judge to consider a lesser misdemeanor charge, which was also rejected. Brian faces a maximum of four years in state prison if convicted.
