A Nevada jury has convicted a former Las Vegas politician of murdering an investigative journalist who had published critical reports about his actions while in office.
Robert Telles, a former Clark County public administrator, was charged with the 2022 killing of 69-year-old investigative reporter Jeff German in the side yard of the journalist’s home.
In its Aug. 28 verdict, the jury found Telles guilty of first-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon on a victim aged 60 or older. They deliberated for nearly 12 hours over three days before a unanimous vote.
Prosecutors argued Telles stabbed German to death over a series of critical articles that appeared in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Among the claims made by German were Telles engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member and that he often harassed and bullied his staff at the Clark County Public Administrator’s Office.
Prosecutors say German was murdered after internal communications from the office were going to be provided under a public records inquiry. Telles, an attorney who practiced civil law before he was elected in 2018, lost his primary for a second elected term after stories criticizing his leadership appeared in the Las Vegas Review-Journal in May and June 2022.
One of the prosecutors, Christopher Hamner, told jurors during closing arguments on Aug. 26 that Telles blamed German for destroying his career, ruining his reputation, and threatening his marriage. He said German fought with his assailant and reminded them that DNA that matched the former politcian’s was found beneath German’s fingernails.
Jury Recommends Life Sentence
The jury has recommended a sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole after 20 years. The jury heard from both the Telles and the German families before coming to their recommended sentencing.
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