Brian Hickerson Denied Expungement After D.A. Accuses Him of Drug Use in Court

An L.A. judge denied Brian Hickerson's bid to expunge his domestic violence record after prosecutors said he appeared 'quite high' in a TMZ interview.

A Los Angeles judge denied Brian Hickerson's motion to expunge his 2020 domestic violence convictions after prosecutors accused him of ongoing drug use, pointing to a recent TMZ interview in which they said he appeared 'quite high.' The accusation was aired in a courtroom hearing, according to court records obtained by People magazine on August 21. Hickerson, 37, and his attorney did not attend the hearing. The expungement effort would have cleared convictions tied to Hickerson's relationship with actress Hayden Panettiere, who died unexpectedly at age 36. The court proceedings occurred three days before Panettiere's death was publicly reported, a timeline noted by US Magazine in its coverage. Hickerson had been convicted of domestic violence offenses against Panettiere stemming from incidents in 2020.

Why it matters

The case keeps public attention on Hickerson's criminal record and conduct in the wake of Panettiere's death at 36. The denial means his domestic violence convictions remain on his record.

What's next

It is not clear from the sources whether Hickerson plans to refile the expungement motion or appeal the ruling.

Key facts

• An L.A. judge denied Brian Hickerson's motion to expunge his 2020 domestic violence convictions
• Prosecutors told the court Hickerson appeared 'quite high' during a recent TMZ interview
• Hickerson, 37, and his attorney did not appear at the court hearing
• Court records were obtained and reported by People magazine on August 21
• The hearing took place three days before the reported death of Hayden Panettiere, who was 36
• The convictions Hickerson sought to clear were tied to domestic violence against Panettiere

Bias & framing notes

TMZ, which conducted the interview at the center of the accusation, framed the story around the courtroom scolding and the expungement denial. US Magazine leaned heavily on the timing relative to Panettiere's death, which is not legally relevant to the court proceedings but serves as an emotional frame. Both outlets rely on court records rather than direct comment from Hickerson, and neither provides his side of the story. The core court facts appear consistent across sources.

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