Previously serving politician under scrutiny for alleged murder of Vegas journalist asserts: "I stand innocent"
Robert Telles, the 47-year-old ex-Clark County Public Administrator, has entered a plea of not guilty to the charge of murder using a deadly weapon in connection with the September 2022 death of Las Vegas Review-Journal journalist Jeff German.
During a lengthy testimony, Telles declared, addressing the jury directly, "I want to make it clear, I am completely innocent. I did not kill Mr. German."
Telles, who did not receive any questioning from his defense attorney, frequently expressed feelings of nervousness throughout his testimony and mentioned that being accused of the crime has been a harrowing experience for him.
Judicial interruptions from the prosecution, which were upheld by the judge, often disrupted Telles' narrative. Judge Leavitt urged him to stick to his personal knowledge and facts, rather than sharing his opinions.
Telles echoed the points made by his attorney, Robert Draskovich, during the trial's opening statements, claiming that he was falsely accused after attempting to expose corruption while serving as the Clark County Public Administrator.
"It's quite a coincidence, isn't it," Telles commented, "that Mr. German was killed, and it was all laid at my feet. No repercussions, no consequences."
As the court adjourned for the day, Telles was still presenting evidence and was expected to continue his testimony the following morning. The trial is set to resume at 10:30 a.m.
Prosecutors have alleged that Telles, driven by anger due to German's articles exposing turmoil in his political office, donned a disguise and waited outside the reporter's residence before fatally stabbing him. About two dozen witnesses testified for the prosecution, who presented video and physical evidence tying Telles to the suspect's disguise, a maroon vehicle on the scene, and DNA found under German's fingernails.
On the other hand, the defense claimed that Telles was framed due to his efforts to reform his political office, which had upset the "Old Guard."
"From the get-go, they were fixated on Robert Telles, and Robert Telles alone," Draskovich stated during the trial's opening statements.
Telles Faces Election Loss
The trial in Clark County unfolded nearly two years following the murder, sparking concerns about journalist violence, even in the United States. Since 1992, 14 journalists have lost their lives in the U.S., most recently a TV reporter who was fatally shot in Florida last year while covering a prior shooting, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
German, 69, wrote extensively about the darker sides of "Sin City" and had covered organized crime, corrupt officials, and unscrupulous government agencies throughout his life. However, prosecutors argued that it was German's coverage of the little-known Clark County Public Administrator's office that led to his demise.
German had written about allegations of misconduct in the Clark County Public Administrator's office, reporting that Telles created a hostile work environment and had an inappropriate relationship with a staffer.
In response to these articles, Telles published posts on his campaign's website and wrote a letter to German, denying the allegations and labeling German as attempting to smear him. In June 2022, Telles lost his bid for reelection in a Democratic primary.
German was discovered dead outside his home with multiple stab wounds on September 2, 2022. He was working on a story about Telles at the time of his death, according to the Review-Journal.
The indictment states that the murder was "willful, deliberate, and premeditated," or committed by "lying in wait."
The Trial's Developments
Over a series of witnesses, the prosecution presented evidence from videos, DNA, and a search of Telles' home and devices that connected him to the murder. The witnesses included German's neighbors who discovered his body, those who worked with Telles, and the detectives who investigated the case.
The key evidence was surveillance video from German's neighborhood on the day of his death, showing a suspicious individual in a large sunhat, orange jacket, and gray Nike sneakers, and driving a maroon SUV. The suspect is seen hiding in the bushes near the house, waiting for German to arrive, leaving, and then returning before finally departing.
The maroon SUV belonged to Telles' family, while a cut-up sunhat and cut-up gray Nike sneakers were found during a search of his residence, according to the prosecution. Additionally, DNA found beneath German's fingernails was consistent with Telles' DNA, prosecutors argued.
Investigators also reviewed Telles' phone and discovered images of German's house and searches related to him, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors also provided an explanation for the timing and motive behind the murder: German had been writing critically about Telles' management, and Telles received an email related to a public records request 15 hours before the murder, according to prosecutors.
For the defense, Draskovich argued during the trial's opening statements that Telles had attempted to reform the Clark County Public Administrator's office, causing anger from an "Old Guard" at the office. This led to a bribery investigation into Telles, but tracking of his cellphone showed it was not present at the crime scene during the murder, Draskovich stated.
Furthermore, he questioned the quality of the police investigation and suggested the possibility of a conspiracy.
"There is no sensible reason why the hat and shoes were cut into pieces other than to conceal and plant them more easily," he stated. "What's significant is there's no blood on them, nor any items linking those articles found in Mr. Telles' house to Jeff German."
Telles expressed his disbelief during the trial, stating, "It's unfair that this ordeal is happening to us, a simple misinterpretation has led to such severe consequences." After the trial, the Clark County public greatly debated the implications of the case for journalists, with Telles' defense attorney, Robert Draskovich, arguing, "This trial has raised important questions about the safety and protection of journalists in the United States, and as a society, we must ensure their rights are upheld and respected."
