Brian Hickerson is pictured arriving at an LA jail on Friday to begin his sentence for domestic violence.
The aspiring actor and ex-boyfriend of Hayden Panettiere is now incarcerated at the Men’s Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles in connection to multiple domestic violence charges against the actress dating back to 2019.
Hickerson, 31, pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring a spouse, cohabitant, fiancé, boyfriend, girlfriend or child’s parent.
Jail time: Brian Hickerson is seen arriving at the Men’s Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles on Friday to begin his 45 day sentence for domestic violence
In addition to 45 days in jail, a judge sentenced him to four years of formal probation, 52 domestic violence classes, a $500 restitution fee, as well as receiving a five-year restraining order.
The South Carolina native is only expected to be in custody for 12 days, and will be released on May 19, after copping a plea deal.
Hickerson – who began dating Panettiere in the summer of 2018 – pleaded not guilty last July to four counts of injuring a spouse, cohabitant, fiancé, boyfriend, girlfriend or child’s parent; one misdemeanor count of battery; two felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon; and one felony count of dissuading a witness from prosecuting a crime, all stemming from alleged incidents that occurred between May 2019 and June 2020.
Sentenced: In April Hickerson, 31, pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring a spouse, cohabitant, fiancé, boyfriend, girlfriend or child’s parent
Booked: The aspiring actor was seen in a blue hoodie and dark pants as he entered the inmate reception area
Behind bars: Hickerson dated the actress from the summer of 2018 until last year; the former couple are seen in December 2018
In June 2020 Hickerson allegedly tried to dissuade Panettiere from seeking justice against him.
He would eventually plead no contest to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or girlfriend this past April, according to a spokesperson for the LA District Attorney’s Office, as reported by USA Today.
Panettiere, 31, first became romantically linked to Hickerson after her split from ex-fiancé and former heavyweight boxing champion, Wladimir Klitschko in 2018.
But the new relationship quickly turned turbulent, according to accusations the actress made in court documents obtained by People last year.
Following Hickerson’s not guilty plea last July, the Heroes actress took to social media to address the assault and abuse allegations, and to urge other people in similar situations to reach out and get support.
Plea deal: Hickerson, an aspiring actor from South Carolina, was sentenced to 45-days in county jail but is only expected to be in custody for 12 days, resulting from time served and different elements; he is seen in a mugshot from Teton County, Wyoming in Feb 2020
Courageous: The Heroes actress took to Instagram in July 2020 to address the abuse allegations and to urge other people in similar situations to get the help and support they need
Taking charge: The Nashville star shared that she was ‘prepared to do my part to make sure this man never hurts anyone again’ in her Instagram post last summer
‘I am coming forward with the truth about what happened to me with the hope that my story will empower others in abusive relationships to get the help they need and deserve,’ she wrote at the time.
‘I am prepared to do my part to make sure this man never hurts anyone again. I’m grateful for my support system, which helped me find the courage to regain my voice and my life.’
Panettiere and Klitschko, who have remained on good terms since separating, share a daughter, Kaya, six, who lives with the retired boxer in Ukraine.
Co-parenting: Panettiere and former heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko, who share six-year-old daughter Kaya, have remained on good terms since separating in 2018; the former couple are pictured in July 2013