Robert Telles Convicted of Murdering Journalist Jeff German
Robert Telles, a former Democratic elected official in the Las Vegas area, was sentenced on Wednesday to at least 28 years in prison for the murder of investigative journalist Jeff German. German, 69, had written critical articles about Telles’ conduct in office, which exposed an affair with a coworker and workplace misconduct. Telles was convicted of first-degree murder by a jury in August.
Clark County District Court Judge Michelle Leavitt handed down the sentence, including an additional eight years due to sentencing enhancements for using a deadly weapon and the age of the victim. The jury’s decision and the judge’s ruling mean Telles could serve a life sentence, with eligibility for parole after 28 years.
No Remorse from Telles
Telles, 47, who served as Clark County Public Administrator, denied responsibility for German’s death during his trial, despite overwhelming evidence. DNA linking him to the crime and surveillance footage were key pieces of evidence. Standing before the judge in shackles, Telles offered condolences to the family but continued to maintain his innocence, claiming, “I did not kill Mr. German.”
Prosecutor Pamela Weckerly told the court that Telles killed German because he was angered by the journalist’s reports, which Telles believed cost him his re-election. “This type of political violence is unacceptable and dangerous for a community as a whole,” Weckerly stated.
Evidence of Premeditation and Cover-Up
Jeff German was an experienced investigative journalist known for exposing corruption. He had written stories about the turmoil within Telles’ office and his relationship with a female employee, which damaged Telles’ reputation and career. Following German’s reports in May and June 2022, Telles lost his primary for re-election.
German was found stabbed to death outside his home in September 2022. Investigators discovered cut-up pieces of a straw hat and a gray shoe at Telles’ home, similar to what a suspect seen in surveillance footage was wearing. Authorities believe Telles disguised himself in a broad hat and an oversized shirt to avoid being identified while committing the murder.
Telles, who testified at trial, admitted for the first time that the allegations about his office affair were true. However, he claimed a wide-ranging conspiracy framed him for German’s murder, a defense the jury rejected after 12 hours of deliberation.
Telles’ Future and Appeal Plans
After the sentencing, Telles’ defense attorney, Robert Draskovich, announced that he was withdrawing from the case, but that Telles planned to appeal. “We fulfilled our defense obligation. We parted on good terms,” Draskovich said.
Telles will be eligible for parole when he is about 73 years old, having already spent two years in custody. Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson emphasized that Telles has shown “absolutely no remorse” and remains a danger to the community if ever released.
