Former Nevada politician Robert Telles has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of journalist Jeff German, who wrote critical stories about Telles during his time in office. Telles, who had been jailed since 2022 for the stabbing of German, sat blank-faced in court as the guilty verdict was read.
Prosecutors presented DNA evidence found under German’s fingernails that they said belonged to Telles, who had pleaded not guilty. The jury deliberated for two days before returning a guilty verdict on Wednesday. Telles now faces up to life in prison.
During the trial, testimony came from dozens of witnesses, including detectives, forensic experts, and Telles himself, who claimed he had been framed. Prosecutors accused Telles of killing German over unflattering articles the journalist had written about his behavior as an elected official.
Security footage showed a figure wearing a large straw hat and sneakers outside German’s home, with similar items found at Telles’s house. The prosecution alleged that Telles was the assailant seen in the video, hiding in the bushes outside German’s home.
Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson praised the jury’s decision, calling it a “home run” for justice. German, a veteran reporter who had covered the city and corruption for over four decades, had one more article to publish about Telles at the time of his death.
The executive editor of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Glenn Cook, stated that the jury’s verdict delivered a measure of justice for German, whose reporting held elected officials accountable for their actions. Telles now awaits sentencing as the case comes to a close.
