Politician Convicted for Murdering Reporter Who Uncovered Office Corruption

A former Nevada politician has been found guilty of murdering journalist Jeff German in September 2022. The jury delivered their verdict, leading Robert Telles, the former Clark County public administrator, to bow his head in disbelief.

Following the announcement, Clark County District Attorney Steven Wolfson expressed gratitude to the jury for their careful consideration of the case. “Today’s verdict should send a message: any attempts to silence the media or intimidate a journalist will not be tolerated,” he stated emphatically.

Prosecutors asserted that Telles, 47, killed German after the journalist exposed corrupt practices in his office, significantly impacting Telles’ political career and personal life. German’s report highlighted a hostile work environment within Telles’ office, including bullying, retaliation, and an “inappropriate relationship” with a staff member, which Telles vehemently denied.

Telles was arrested just days after German’s body was found outside his Las Vegas home. Authorities connected him to the crime scene through DNA evidence uncovered at his residence. Additionally, police found a straw hat and sneakers, matching those seen in surveillance footage, cut up in Telles’ home. His DNA was also detected on German’s hands and fingernails.

Telles pleaded not guilty to murder and could potentially face life in prison. During her opening statement, Chief Deputy District Attorney Pamela Weckerly outlined the timeline leading to Telles being identified as the suspect. “This case isn’t about politics or personal relationships; it’s fundamentally about murder,” she asserted.

Telles took the stand in his own defense on August 21, insisting on his innocence. He claimed to be the victim of a conspiracy orchestrated by a real estate company he was investigating for alleged bribery. “Somebody framed me for this,” he told the court, singling out Compass Realty as the culprit.

In response, Takumba Britt, owner of Compass Realty, dismissed Telles’ accusations, labeling him a “desperate man” trying to deflect responsibility for the violent crime against a respected journalist.

Wolfson refuted Telles’ claims of a broader conspiracy, stating, “There was no conspiracy. The only conspiracy was between him and his evil mind.”

When taken into custody, Telles had non-life-threatening self-inflicted stab wounds. His defense attorney argued that the wounds were not indicative of guilt, but rather a sign that Telles felt his life was unraveling.

Throughout the trial, Telles’ attorney suggested that longstanding discontent within the public administrator’s office over Telles’ efforts to address corruption could have led to a motive for German’s murder by other individuals. “Others had far more motive to make it look like Telles was the killer,” his attorney claimed.

As sentencing approached, German’s siblings addressed the court, sharing heartfelt memories of their brother. “Jeff was our leader; he was the older brother we all leaned on,” said Jay German, his brother. Memories of German being a “wonderful” uncle and a passionate journalist filled the courtroom, with his sister vividly recalling a moment when he celebrated her engagement by buying a round of champagne.

Telles’ family members, including his wife and mother, also implored the jury for leniency, expressing their desire for him to have a second chance. “I would love at some point to give my children the chance to have their father back,” Telles’ wife, Mary Ann Ismael, pleaded.

However, prosecutors argued for a life sentence. Clark County Chief Deputy District Attorney Chris Hamner said, “Telles decided to be judge, jury, and literally executioner of German because he simply wasn’t happy about what was being written about him.” He emphasized the premeditated nature of the crime and Telles’ conscious choice to end a life over a lost election.

German’s murder marked a significant moment in journalism, as he was the only journalist killed in the U.S. in 2022, amidst a global total of at least 67 journalists lost that year, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Las Vegas Sheriff Joseph Lombardo described the killing as particularly troubling due to its impact on the press and the fundamental expectations of transparency and accountability in government.

In a statement, Glenn Cook, executive editor of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, expressed that the verdict serves as a form of justice not only for German but for journalists everywhere. He remarked on German’s dedication to holding officials accountable, calling Telles’ act a disturbing betrayal of civic responsibility. “His murder remains an outrage. He is missed,” Cook concluded.

Source: ABC News