A former Nevada politician, Robert Telles, was convicted of murdering journalist Jeff German in September 2022. Telles, the former Clark County public administrator, allegedly killed German after his investigative reporting exposed corruption in Telles’ office, damaging his political career and marriage. Telles denied the allegations of a hostile work environment in his office, including bullying and an inappropriate relationship. His arrest was based on DNA evidence linking him to the crime scene and surveillance footage showing him wearing distinctive clothing that was later found cut up in his home, along with his DNA on German’s hands and fingernails. Telles pleaded not guilty to murder and faces a potential life sentence.
Prosecutors presented evidence in court showing Telles as the suspect in German’s murder. Chief Deputy District Attorney Pamela Weckerly asserted that the case was not about politics or workplace conflicts, but simply about murder. Telles took the stand in his own defense, maintaining his innocence and claiming he was framed by a real estate company he was supposedly investigating for bribery. Compass Realty owner Takumba Britt denied Telles’ conspiracy claims, calling him desperate and accused of violently killing a respected journalist, willing to say anything to avoid facing the charges against him. Telles, who had self-inflicted stab wounds when taken into custody, insisted the suicide attempt was due to his life falling apart, not guilt.
Defense attorney Robert Draskovich supported Telles’ claims of being framed, attributing the conspiracy to the “old guard” in the public administrator’s office unhappy with Telles’ anti-corruption measures. Draskovich suggested that other potential suspects may have had a motive to kill German, given his history of exposing corrupt individuals. Jeff German was the only journalist killed in the United States in 2022, part of a larger pattern of violence against journalists worldwide, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Las Vegas Sheriff Joseph Lombardo deemed the case “troublesome” due to the targeting of a journalist, a profession that is meant to provide transparency and hold government officials accountable.
The jury found Telles guilty of murdering Jeff German, ending a trial that showcased conflicting narratives about Telles’ alleged involvement in the crime. Telles vehemently asserted his innocence throughout the proceedings, claiming to be framed by a real estate company. The prosecution maintained that Telles was responsible for German’s death, motivated by the journalist’s damaging revelations about corruption in Telles’ office. The case drew attention to the importance of press freedom and the risks faced by journalists who expose wrongdoing. Telles now faces the possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison for a crime that shook the community and highlighted the dangers faced by those in the field of investigative journalism.
