Former Democrat Politician Convicted of Murdering Veteran Las Vegas Reporter

In a shocking conclusion to a high-profile case, former Democrat Clark County public administrator Robert Telles was found guilty on Wednesday of murdering Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German in September 2022. The verdict came after three days of deliberation by the jury, who convicted the 47-year-old politician of brutally stabbing German to death outside his home.

Key details of the case include:

• German, a veteran journalist with 40 years of experience, had exposed scandals within Telles’ office, including allegations of a hostile work environment and an "inappropriate" relationship with a staffer.

• Telles, who finished third in his June 2022 primary election, reportedly blamed German’s investigative reporting for his political downfall.

• Prosecutors presented surveillance footage showing a man matching Telles' description waiting near German's home before the attack, and later fleeing in a maroon SUV linked to Telles.

German's investigative work had long targeted corruption within Las Vegas politics, but his reporting on Telles’ public office, published in May 2022, proved to be the final chapter in his distinguished career. The story highlighted a "hostile work environment" and potential misconduct, which prosecutors argued pushed Telles over the edge after he lost his re-election bid.

During the trial, Chief Deputy District Attorney Pamela Weckerly underscored Telles' deep resentment toward German, pointing out that the disgraced politician "was clearly incredibly upset that those articles were written and that it resulted in him losing that primary."

In a bizarre twist, Telles testified that his former colleagues, along with a real estate company and the police, had conspired to hire an assassin to murder German and frame him for the crime. However, even Telles’ own attorney, Robert Draskovich, distanced himself from this theory, acknowledging the desperate nature of his client’s situation.

Following the guilty verdict, the Las Vegas Review-Journal, where German had worked, issued a statement: "Today a Clark County jury delivered a measure of justice for Jeff German, and we hope it brings some solace to his family, friends, and colleagues. Jeff was killed for doing the kind of work in which he took great pride: His reporting held an elected official accountable for bad behavior and empowered voters to choose someone else for the job."

The conviction of Robert Telles is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by journalists committed to exposing the truth, and it underscores the critical role of the free press in holding public officials accountable.

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