A Lexington County home invader has been sentenced to life for a military veteran’s murder. Clenord James Graham, 34, will spend the rest of his life in prison for the murder of Robert “R.J.” Kobylak, 67. An accomplice, Charles Anthony Allen, Jr., 23, has been sentenced to 40 years without parole. They killed Kobylak during a home invasion of his 264 Shadow Dale Drive home in Gaston Feb. 20, 2017. Friends found Kobylak, a retired attorney, beaten and bound with electrical cord. Kobylak had retired due to his health and lived alone. “This was a brutal, senseless murder,” 11th Circuit Solicitor Rick Hubbard said. “We hope today’s sentence will bring a sense of justice to Mr. Kobylak’s family. “We are relieved to see these cold-blooded killers behind bars,” he said. Deputy Solicitor Suzanne Mayes prosecuted and Circuit Court Judge Frank R. Addy, Jr. imposed sentence. Kobylak was an avid coin collector with several thousand dollars in antique coins and cash in his safe. His Toyota was also stolen. An autopsy conducted by Dr. Janice Ross determined Kobylak had multiple head injuries and died as a result of blunt force trauma. Lexington County Sheriff’s deputies, led by Detective Scott Lyons, found:

• The invaders had kicked in a door, catching the victim by surprise.

• Graham and Allen were in possession of the victim’s safe, coins and large amounts of stolen cash. A witness led deputies to Kobylak’s vehicle in woods near Waters Ferry Road. Evidence in the trunk included the stolen safe and a mask containing DNA from Allen and a camouflage shirt containing Graham’s DNA. The SC Law Enforcement Division’s DNA analysis confirmed the victim’s blood. Numerous witnesses told deputies that Graham and Allen admitted the crime. Under state law, murder is a “no parole” crime.