Howard Novak (DOB 03/08/54), of Simi Valley, was sentenced by Judge Ryan Wright to 12 years in state prison following his conviction by jury of voluntary manslaughter with personal use of a knife for the killing of his stepson, Kelly Hughes, age 28. The sentence of 12 years was the maximum allowed by law.
On August 4, 2016, Novak stabbed Mr. Hughes to death at the home they shared in Simi Valley. Novak killed Mr. Hughes with a knife after Novak confronted him about not doing chores earlier in the day.
The case was investigated by the Simi Valley Police Department.
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