One Lexington County resident has been sentenced to 48 years in prison without parole for the Aug. 22, 2022 murder of 66-year-old Micheal Funny.

23-year-old West Columbia resident Cleaveland Stone Jr. was sentenced by a Lexington County jury on Aug. 22, 2024 after murdering Funny on Glenn Road in West Columbia while Funny was in his vehicle.

Prior to the trial, Stone tried to claim prosecutorial immunity under South Carolina’s Stand Your Ground law, which was denied at the Aug. 8 hearing.

During the trial, Stone claimed self-defense, defense of others and defense of habitation.

The jury deliberated for two hours before reaching a verdict.

Stone will be serving his sentence at the South Carolina Department of Corrections.