State Official Guilty of Murdering Reporter Who Uncovered Office Corruption

A former Nevada politician was convicted on Wednesday for the murder of journalist Jeff German, who was killed in September 2022. The verdict was announced as the jury’s foreperson read the outcome, while Robert Telles, the accused, looked down and shook his head in response.

The prosecution presented evidence that Telles, a former Clark County public administrator aged 47, fatally stabbed German after the journalist reported on alleged corruption within Telles’ office. The investigations revealed a hostile work environment, including bullying, retaliation, and an improper relationship between Telles and a staff member, which Telles denied.

Telles was apprehended just days after German’s body was discovered outside his home in Las Vegas. Authorities linked him to the crime using DNA evidence found in Telles’ residence. Items, including a straw hat and sneakers resembling those worn by the suspect in surveillance footage, were also recovered cut up in his house. Additionally, his DNA was discovered on German’s hands and fingernails.

During his trial, Telles pleaded not guilty to the charges and could potentially face a life sentence in prison.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Pamela Weckerly laid out the events leading to Telles being identified as the primary suspect in her opening statement. She emphasized that the case should not be viewed through the lens of politics or office dynamics, stating, “In the end, this case isn’t about politics… it’s just about murder.”

Telles took the stand on August 21, asserting his innocence, claiming he was part of a conspiracy orchestrated by a real estate company he was investigating for bribery. “Somebody framed me for this, and I believe it is Compass Realty, and I believe it’s because of the work that I’ve done against them,” Telles claimed during the trial.

In January, Takumba Britt, the owner of Compass Realty, dismissed Telles’ allegations, calling him a “desperate man” who resorted to blaming others for his violent actions against a respected local journalist.

When arrested, Telles exhibited non-life-threatening, self-inflicted stab wounds. His defense attorney, Robert Draskovich, explained that these injuries were not a sign of guilt but rather a result of Telles’ life falling apart amidst the unfolding chaos.

Draskovich also supported Telles’ allegations of a web of deceit against him, describing how a faction within the public administrator’s office was upset with Telles’ efforts to combat corruption. He speculated that, due to German’s history of investigating corrupt individuals, other parties could have had greater motives for wanting him dead.

“There were others that had far more motive to make it look like [Telles] was the killer, and to conduct this killing because Jeff German was a good reporter — he would ultimately get to what the truth was,” Draskovich argued.

Jeff German stands out as the only journalist murdered in the United States in 2022, amidst a grim occurrence that saw a total of at least 67 journalists killed worldwide that year, as reported by the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Las Vegas Sheriff Joseph Lombardo pointed out the unusual nature of Telles’ case, stressing the significance of a journalist’s murder. He remarked, “It is troublesome because it is a journalist. We expect journalism to be open and transparent and the watchdog for government. When individuals feel compelled to perpetrate harm associated with that profession, it is crucial that we shine a light on the case and address it appropriately.”