Former Public Official Found Guilty of Murder

Former Nevada politician Robert Telles has been found guilty of murdering investigative reporter Jeff German, bringing a chilling end to a case that shocked Las Vegas and raised concerns about press freedom.

At a Glance

Robert Telles, 47, convicted of first-degree murder in the stabbing death of Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German.
German, 69, was killed outside his home in September 2022 after publishing critical articles about Telles.
DNA evidence under German’s fingernails linked Telles to the crime.
Telles faces up to life in prison, with sentencing pending.

Verdict Delivered After Two-Week Trial

A jury of 12 in Las Vegas deliberated for two days before returning a guilty verdict against Robert Telles, the former Clark County public administrator. Telles, 47, had been jailed since 2022 for the stabbing death of Jeff German, a veteran investigative reporter known for his hard-hitting exposés on corruption and criminal activities.

The trial, which lasted two weeks and featured testimony from dozens of witnesses, presented damning evidence against Telles. Prosecutors argued that the former politician killed German over a series of critical articles that exposed misconduct within Telles’s office, ultimately leading to his loss in the primary election for a second term.

The jury in the trial of Robert Telles found the former Clark County, Nevada, elected official guilty of murder in the death of investigative reporter Jeff German on Wednesday. https://t.co/aXbcFt4n7f pic.twitter.com/3vsyphW0o6

— CBS News (@CBSNews) August 28, 2024

Evidence Points to Premeditated Attack

The prosecution’s case was built on a compelling array of evidence. DNA found under German’s fingernails matched Telles, and security footage showed an assailant wearing a distinctive straw hat and sneakers outside German’s home. Similar items were later found cut up at Telles’s residence.

“This thing has been kind of a nightmare,” Telles said about a week into the trial. “I want to say unequivocally – I’m innocent. I didn’t kill Mr German.”

Despite Telles’s claims of innocence and his defense team’s arguments that he was framed, the jury found the evidence overwhelming. Prosecutors presented a timeline of events and video footage showing Telles’s SUV near the crime scene, painting a picture of a premeditated attack motivated by revenge.

A Blow to Press Freedom

The murder of Jeff German sent shockwaves through the journalism community and raised alarms about the safety of reporters, particularly those covering local politics and corruption. German, with over four decades of experience, was working on yet another article about Telles at the time of his death.

Glenn Cook, executive editor of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, emphasized the broader implications of the case, stating that the verdict “brought a measure of justice for slain journalists all over the world.” He noted that while journalists’ jobs are increasingly risky, especially in countries where their killers often go unpunished, this case demonstrated that such crimes would not be tolerated in Las Vegas.

As the community grapples with the loss of a trusted journalist and the shocking reality of an elected official turning to murder, the case serves as a stark reminder of the vital role that a free press plays in holding power to account. It also underscores the dangers that journalists may face in pursuit of the truth, even in established democracies.