Former Las Vegas politician Robert Telles found guilty of murder of journalist

After nearly 12 hours of deliberation, a jury in Las Vegas on Wednesday found former Clark County public servant Robert Telles guilty of murdering veteran journalist Jeff German. The sentencing phase of the trial, which will determine Telles' sentence, begins immediately.

Telles was arrested on September 7, 2022, five days after a neighbor found German's body outside his Las Vegas home. The 69-year-old victim, who had worked as an investigative reporter for over 40 years, had suffered multiple stab wounds.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police were able to find surveillance video of a possible suspect on the security camera of a nearby home. A person wearing a large straw hat and an orange safety vest was seen walking to and from German's home. Police also spotted a maroon Yukon Denali as the possible suspect's vehicle. According to Telles' arrest report, an SUV of that make, model and color was registered to Telles' wife.

Investigators obtained a search warrant for Telles' home and car and permission to take a DNA sample. Prosecutors said a straw hat cut into pieces and a bloody sneaker similar to the suspect's footwear were found in Telles' home. Telles' DNA was reportedly found under the victim's fingernails.

Prosecutors believe Telles, now 47, killed German because he was upset about articles German had written for the Las Vegas Review-Journal about Telles' alleged inappropriate relationship with a co-worker. Other Telles co-workers also told German about their hostile work environment, which he detailed in his reports. Telles also lost the next election, which prosecutors believe was another motive.

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Telles pleaded not guilty to the murder, claiming he was framed and that the evidence against him was fabricated by police and prosecutors.

Telles has been held without bail at the Clark County Detention Center since his arrest nearly two years ago.

This story was originally published by Katie McLaughlin and Grace Wong at CourtTV.