West Columbia man convicted in fatal driveway shooting sentenced to 48 years
A West Columbia man has been sentenced to 48 years in prison after a Lexington County jury convicted him of murder in a shooting that occurred in the man’s driveway two years ago.
Cleveland Stone Jr., 23, had asked the court for immunity under the state’s “Stand Your Ground Law,’‘ which legal experts say allows a person to fight back if another person is trying to unlawfully enter a home or occupied vehicle.
But there are limits to that law and the jury didn’t buy the argument, deliberating for about two hours, before returning the conviction, according to a news release from the 11th Circuit Solicitor’s office in Lexington County.
The case revolves around the death of Michael Duane Funny, a 66-year-old long-distance truck driver. Funny was in his vehicle and parked in Stone’s driveway when the shooting occurred Aug. 25, 2022.
According to the solicitor’s office, Funny had asked for Stone’s father, who had done work for the truck driver. Funny owed the elder Stone $20 for cutting his grass, the solicitor’s office said.
After he was shot, Funny fired his own gun back at Stone, striking the younger man and his sister, the solicitor’s office news release said.
“Mike lost his life in 60 seconds after driving into the driveway,’’ according to a statement from prosecutors Robby McNair and Sutania Fuller. “This was a senseless shooting that did not have to happen. It is important that people in the community know that you cannot simply shoot someone for entering your property to ask a question.’’
While Stone said he was acting in self defense, authorities obtained a recording of a survey Funny was taking when the incident occurred. The survey, for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, revealed key evidence that led to the conviction, the solicitor’s office said.
Defense attorney Tivis Sutherland IV of Columbia said an appeal is under consideration.
“I will be filing post trial motions in the next few days, and from there, we will move on to an appeal if necessary,” said Sutherland on Friday.
For now, Stone is the custody of the S.C. Department of Corrections.
State Judge Debra McCaslin presided over the trial and pronounced sentence.
State reporter John Monk contributed.
This story was originally published August 31, 2024 at 6:00 AM.
