Clenord James Graham, a 34 year old Lexington County man, has been sentenced to Life in prison for the murder of Robert “R.J.” Kobylak, 67.

Charles Anthony Allen, Jr., 23, has been sentenced to 40 years without parole for his role in Kobylak’s murder. Kobylak was killed in his home at 264 Shadow Dale Drive in the Gaston area of Lexington County in February of 2017. The sentence was imposed earlier today by Circuit Court Judge Frank R. Addy, Jr.

Eleventh Circuit Solicitor Rick Hubbard, in a press release, stated, “This was a brutal, senseless murder committed out of greed. Crimes of this nature will not be tolerated in our community. 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.” The case was prosecuted by Deputy Solicitor Suzanne Mayes.

Kobylak, a military veteran and retired attorney, was found beaten and partially bound with electrical cord on February 20, 2017 when friends went to check on him after being unable to reach him by phone for several days. Kobylak was living alone at the time and had retired from practicing law due to health complications. The investigation was conducted by the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department and led by Detective Scott Lyons. Investigators determined that Kobylak was beaten and robbed of a safe located inside of his home. He was an avid coin collector and had several thousand dollars in antique coins and cash in his safe. His Toyota vehicle was also stolen from his driveway during the crime.

An autopsy conducted by Dr. Janice Ross in Newberry determined that Kobylak sustained multiple head injuries during the attack and died as a result of blunt force trauma. Graham and Allen gained entry by kicking in the door of Kobylak’s home. Evidence at the scene indicates that Kobylak was caught by surprise and unable to defend himself from the assailants.

Following the murder, investigators learned that both Graham and Allen were seen in possession of the victim’s safe, as well as numerous coins and large amounts of cash stolen during the robbery. A witness later led law enforcement to the recovery of Kobylak’s stolen vehicle in a wooded area near the 900 block of Waters Ferry Road in Lexington County.

Crime scene investigators processed the vehicle and found numerous items of evidence in the trunk, including the stolen safe and various articles of clothing. Swabs collected from the safe were submitted to the S.C. Law Enforcement Division (SLED) for DNA analysis and confirmed the presence of the victim’s blood. A bag in the trunk contained a makeshift mask, worn as a disguise, which contained DNA from Charles Anthony Allen, Jr. Also in the bag was a camouflage shirt which contained DNA from Clenord Graham.

Numerous witnesses in the Gaston area provided statements to law enforcement indicating that Graham and Allen admitted to committing the crime. One witness provided a statement that Graham approached him prior to the murder and said that he planned to “break into a house to get a safe.”

Graham and Allen are being transported to the S.C. Department of Corrections to begin immediate service of their sentences. Under South Carolina law, murder is a “no parole” crime.

Lexington County men sentenced for brutal murder, home invasion