A 71-year-old man has agreed to a six-year prison sentence for killing his neighbor over what police say was a misunderstanding.

Herschol Howell pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter in the 2020 stabbing death of 67-year-old Billy G. Attaway Jr. As part of a plea deal, prosecutors are dropping a murder charge against him.

Howell, who has been in jail since 2020, will be formally sentenced on May 1. He has served almost all of his prison term already, with credit for time served and good behavior, court records show.

Attaway was stabbed to death on Aug. 22, 2020 in the 1000 block of 69th Avenue in East Oakland. Police said at the time the two argued over a woman, but that the whole thing was a misunderstanding. Howell also reportedly told police that he had stabbed Attaway in self-defense.

This is Howell’s seventh felony conviction, according to court records.

He received prison terms for all but a 1987 assault conviction for which he got probation and is a registered sex offender, authorities said.

Staff writer Harry Harris contributed reporting.