Hayden Panettiere's Brian Hickerson 'threatened to release videos of' Nashville actress in wake of his domestic violence arrest

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Hayden Panettiere's ex-boyfriend Brian Hickerson 'threatened to release videos of' the actress that would humiliate her after he was arrested earlier this year amid allegations of domestic violence toward the actress.

Hickerson, 31, 'had direct communication with' the 30-year-old actress in the wake of his legal troubles, a source told US, during which time he 'threatened to release certain information if she didn't drop the charges.'

Hickerson 'specifically, he threatened to release videos of' Panettiere, who played Juliette Barnes on the CMT series, Nashville, the source said.

The latest: Hayden Panettiere's ex-boyfriend Brian Hickerson, 31, 'threatened to release videos of' the actress, 30, that would humiliate her after he was arrested amid allegations of domestic violence toward the actress. The former couple was snapped last year in LA

Hickerson was involved in a pretrial conference in the case this past Monday, about six months after he was arrested February 14 in Jackson Hole, Wyoming in connection with domestic battery and interfering with a police officer amid allegations he had hit the actress.

Hickerson struck Panettiere 'with a closed fist on the right side of her face' in the incident, according to a police report.

Hickerson - who was also arrested in May of 2019 in connection with domestic violence in an incident with Panettiere - has been accused of witness intimidation in the ongoing case, as a warrant for his felony arrest was issued across the country last week. Last month, he was charged with eight more counts in the case.

Court docs in the case report that South Carolina native, who has a background in real estate and acting, had tried to contact the Golden Globe-nominated TV star in March and escalated to 'much more directed and threatening in manner toward the end of June.'

Hickerson was arrested February 14 in Jackson Hole, Wyoming in connection with domestic battery and interfering with a police officer amid allegations he had hit the actress

Hickerson and Panettiere were snapped in 2018 in LA 

A lawyer for the Palisades, New York-born beauty in June apprised authorities with the Teton County Sheriff's department of Hickerson sending the Heroes beauty texts and photos he was talking about releasing, according to court docs.

'Some of the "embarrassing' information … appears to be for short video clips that were sent from [Hickerson] to [Panettiere] during this exchange from a previous incident at an unknown date and time,' according to court docs.

Hickerson 'used threatening language throughout the texts and videos referencing having information that would be embarrassing to [Panettiere] if she refused to drop the charges that have been brought against him.'

Hickerson entered a not guilty plea in the initial case and denies the allegations, according to his lawyer, who sought to have the warrant against him dropped, saying his client 'asserts he did not violate any release condition,' according to the outlet.

Glam: The actress, who played Juliette Barnes on the CMT series, Nashville, was snapped in LA in 2017

Panettiere was engaged to Ukrainian athlete Wladimir Klitschko for five years until their 2018 split, and they share daughter Kaya, five 

An insider told the outlet that Hickerson, who faces as many as 10 years in prison if convicted, 'has been trying to post bail in California ... but the only way is turn himself in and post bail with a court date.'

Panettiere was engaged to Ukrainian athlete Wladimir Klitschko for five years until their 2018 split, and they share daughter Kaya, five.

She spoke out about the relationship with Hickerson last month, saying in a statement she was '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.

'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.'