Trial against Robert Telles: Ex-politician found guilty of murder of Vegas reporter Jeff German

CNN
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The former Nevada politician accused of stabbing a Las Vegas investigative journalist to death after a series of critical articles was found guilty of murder on Wednesday in a trial that raised concerns about press safety.

Robert Telles, a 47-year-old former Clark County public administrator, was found guilty in September 2022 of killing Jeff German, a longtime reporter for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The jury found the murder was “random, deliberate and premeditated” and carried out by “lying in wait.” Telles shook his head as the verdict was read.

Telles faces a life sentence. The sentencing phase of the trial is scheduled to begin on Wednesday afternoon.

Prosecutors allege Telles killed German because he was angry over the reporter's articles exposing unrest in his little-known political office and worried about another article due to appear soon. Telles disguised himself – including wearing a large sun hat – and hid outside the reporter's home before stabbing him, prosecutors said.

About two dozen witnesses testified for the prosecution, which used video and physical evidence to link Telles to the suspect's disguise, a maroon vehicle at the crime scene and DNA found under German's fingernails.

“He murdered him because Jeff's writing destroyed his career, ruined his reputation, probably threatened his marriage and brought to light things that he himself admitted he did not want the public to know,” prosecutor Christopher Hamner said in his counterarguments on Monday. “He did it because Jeff was not finished with the writing.”

In contrast, the defense said Telles was framed for his death because he used his political office to push through changes that angered the “Old Guard.” Telles testified in his own defense during the trial and denied any wrongdoing. He offered a conspiracy that a real estate company hired a hitman to kill the reporter and then pinned the blame on him.

“I want to make it clear that I am innocent. I did not kill Mr. German,” Telles testified.

The trial began about two weeks ago and the jury began deliberations on Monday.

The trial in Clark County comes nearly two years after the murder and highlights concerns that violence against journalists still exists even in the United States. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 14 journalists have been killed in the United States since 1992.

German, 69, wrote about the underbelly of “Sin City” and covered mobsters, corrupt officials and corrupt government agencies during his life. But prosecutors said his reporting on a little-known office of a county elected official led to the murder.

German had written about allegations of misconduct in the Clark County Public Administrator's office, reporting that Telles had created a hostile work environment and had an inappropriate relationship with a female employee. Because of those articles, among others, Telles lost his bid for re-election in a Democratic primary in June 2022.

The reporter was found dead with stab wounds in front of his house on September 2, 2022.

The prosecution relied on surveillance video from German's neighborhood on the day of the murder, which shows a suspect wearing a large sun hat, orange jacket and gray Nike sneakers in a maroon SUV. The suspect hid in the bushes on the side of German's house, waited for the reporter to arrive, stabbed him and left him to die, prosecutors said.

The maroon SUV belonged to Telles, and he was later observed washing the vehicle in front of his home, prosecutors said. During a search warrant for Telles' home, police found a large sun hat and gray Nike sneakers that had been cut into pieces and hidden, prosecutors said.

Additionally, DNA under German's fingernails matched Telles' DNA, prosecutors said. Investigators also examined Telles' phone and found images of German's house from Google Maps, prosecutors said.

In closing arguments Monday, Assistant District Attorney Pamela Weckerly summarized the evidence and showed Telles' texts criticizing German's article.

“He was obviously incredibly upset that these articles were written and that they led to him losing the primary,” Weckerly said.

Defense attorney Robert Draskovich questioned the quality of the investigation, arguing that there was a lack of evidence. He said investigators had not found German's blood on any of Telles' belongings and questioned the damage to his hat and shoes.

Telles, who is a lawyer by training, took the stand and testified in narrative style, meaning he spoke without being questioned by his own lawyer. He presented a conspiracy-theory version of events in which a real estate firm, his office colleagues, the police, the DNA lab and prosecutors all agreed to hire a hitman to kill German and then pin the blame on him.

“I did not cut up a shoe and hide it under my sofa. I did not cut up a hat and put it in an open door of my toolbox. I did not kill Mr. German,” he said.

Telles said he was watching television at home on the day of the murder before going for a walk and going to the gym. He showed a phone log of his activities that day and said there was nothing “suspicious” about it.

But in a tense cross-examination, prosecutor Christopher Hamner pointed out a discrepancy between Telles' phone records and text exchanges on his wife's Apple Watch, which included a message from his wife asking, “Where are you?”

In his closing argument, Telles' own attorney did not fully support Telles' conspiracy theory, although he was sympathetic to his client's mindset.

“It's understandable why he believes in this far-reaching conspiracy,” Draskovich said. “What other options does he have under these circumstances?”

But in the prosecution's rebuttal, Hamner derided the conspiracy and bluntly told the jury: “It didn't make any sense.”

“It gives you a glimpse into his mind. That's how important Mr. Telles sees himself. That every single one of these people, these beings, was literally willing to kill another human being – who is not him – just to pin the blame on him,” Hamner said. “Does that make sense? And more importantly, where is the evidence?”

This is a developing story and will be updated.