Photo: Tribune News Service
Former Clark County public administrator Robert Telles has been sentenced to life in prison with eligibility for parole after 20 years. Telles was found guilty of murdering investigative journalist Jeff German in September 2022. The verdict was announced on Wednesday (August 28), and Telles shook his head as the jury's foreperson read it out.
German, a reporter for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, had written articles critical of Telles, exposing corruption in his office. This exposure led to the destruction of Telles' political career and his marriage. German's articles detailed an allegedly hostile work environment in Telles' office, including bullying, retaliation, and an "inappropriate relationship" between Telles and a staffer, all of which Telles denied.
According to ABC News, Telles was arrested days after German was found dead outside his Las Vegas home. DNA evidence found in Telles' home tied him to the crime scene, and a straw hat and sneakers, which the suspect was seen wearing in surveillance footage, were found cut up in his home. His DNA was also found on German's hands and fingernails.
Telles maintained his innocence throughout the trial, claiming he was "framed" in a conspiracy by a real estate company that he was investigating for alleged bribery. However, Clark County District Attorney Steven Wolfson dismissed Telles' conspiracy claims, stating, "The only conspiracy was between him and his evil mind."
The murder of German, who was the only journalist killed in the U.S. in 2022, drew widespread attention. His death was a significant blow to the journalism community, and his siblings remembered him as a "wonderful" uncle, a "fearless" journalist, and a lover of football and sitcoms.