Ex-Las Vegas politician Robert Telles convicted of investigative journalist’s murder – Washington Examiner
Robert Telles, a former Las Vegas politician, was convicted of the murder of investigative journalist Jeff German. The jury deliberated for over 11 hours before reaching a verdict, finding Telles guilty of stabbing German, who had written critical articles about him. Telles had been serving as Clark County’s administrator of unclaimed estates but lost his position after German published a report alleging Telles was involved in an inappropriate affair and that his office was chaotic. German’s body was discovered in September 2022, and prosecutors argued that Telles harbored resentment toward the journalist for his damaging reporting. Following the conviction, the Executive Editor of the *Las Vegas Review-Journal*, Glenn Cook, expressed hope that the verdict would bring some solace to German’s family and colleagues, highlighting the important role of journalism in holding elected officials accountable. Telles proclaimed his innocence throughout the trial.
Ex-Las Vegas politician Robert Telles convicted of investigative journalist’s murder
Robert Telles was found guilty on Wednesday of killing a Las Vegas investigative journalist who had authored unflattering accounts about him.
A jury of 12 deliberated for over 11 hours before finding the former Las Vegas-area Democratic politician guilty of killing Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German.
“Today a Clark County jury delivered a measure of justice for Jeff German, and we hope it brings some solace to his family, friends, and colleagues,” Las Vegas Review-Journal Executive Editor Glenn Cook said in a statement for the outlet. “Jeff was killed for doing the kind of work in which he took great pride: His reporting held an elected official accountable for bad behavior and empowered voters to choose someone else for the job.”
In May 2022, Telles lost his Democratic primary battle to keep his job as Clark County’s administrator of unclaimed estates. The defeat came after German published a scathing report alleging Telles was conducting an inappropriate affair with a female co-worker and that his office was in turmoil.
German was found stabbed to death in September 2022. Prosecutors argued Telles held a grudge against German for writing reports that hurt his career.
“This thing has been kind of a nightmare. I want to say unequivocally: I’m innocent. I didn’t kill Mr. German,” Telles said as he took the stand in his own defense last week. The former Las Vegas politician argued he was being framed, saying that a real estate company he shared a fractured relationship with was waging vengeance on him.
However, he admitted during his testimony that he was afraid German’s allegations would prevent him from working as a lawyer in Las Vegas.
Telles’s DNA was reportedly found under German’s nails. The lead prosecutor in the case, Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson, called Telles’s argument “ludicrous.”
“Any attempts to silence the media or to silence or intimidate a journalist will not be tolerated,” he said on Wednesday.
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