Glendale man who allegedly killed ex-boyfriend pleads not guilty

A 34-year-old Glendale man, his brother and a friend pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges that they planned the violent killing of his estranged boyfriend to collect his life insurance money, officials said.

Hovanes “John” Maskovian, his brother Hachik “Kriss” Maskovian, 29, and Nazaret “Nick” Bayamdzhyan, 19, remain in custody without bail in connection with death of 33-year-old Glendale resident Joshua West, Jane Robison, a Los Angeles County district attorney spokeswoman, told the Glendale News-Press.

The three men are charged with one count each of murder and attempting to kidnap West, who was beaten, shot and run over in April in a Sun Valley neighborhood.

Prosecutors also allege the three men were lying in wait, committed the murder for financial gain, and killed West during the kidnapping attempt.

According to prosecutors, the three men together planned to kill West.

On April 24, Los Angeles police responded to reports of possible gunshots at 10 p.m. in the 10700 block of Vinedale Street, where they discovered blood and other evidence.

While they investigated the scene, police received another call about multiple gunshots in the 10200 block of Penrose Street. They arrived to discover West lying in the street.

Witnesses reportedly saw Hachik Maskovian dumping West on the roadway, officials said.

Two days later, Los Angeles police arrested him in connection with West’s death.

Months later, investigators discovered Hovanes Maskovian and Nazaret Bayamdzhyan were also allegedly involved in the killing, officials said. The men were arrested July 25 in Sun Valley.

Hovanes Maskovian and West dated for seven years but they broke up in December, West’s family members said.

Though they had broken up, family members said that out of convenience, the pair continued to live together in Glendale.

West, who worked for an investment group, relocated from his native North Carolina to Hollywood with the desire of breaking into acting, according to his sister, Erica Gamble.

The three men are scheduled to appear Oct. 29 in the Los Angeles County Superior Court in San Fernando to set a date for a preliminary hearing.

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Rocha writes for Times Community News