Former Las Vegas Democratic politician Robert Telles has been sentenced to at least 28 years in prison for the murder of investigative journalist Jeff German, who had exposed corruption within his office.
Former Las Vegas Democratic politician Robert Telles has been sentenced to at least 28 years in prison for the murder of investigative journalist Jeff German, who had exposed corruption within his office.
A judge on Wednesday invoked sentencing enhancements to add eight years to the minimum 20 years to life sentence that a jury set in August after finding Telles guilty of killing German outside his home during Labor Day weekend in 2022.
Robert Telles Sentenced to 28 Years for Murder of Journalist Jeff German
German, 69, had spent 44 years covering crime, courts, and corruption in Las Vegas. At the time of his death, Telles, 47, was the elected administrator of a Clark County office that handles unclaimed estate and probate property cases.
German's brother Jay told the courtroom before Telles' sentencing that his death had a profound impact on his family. "We lost a brother, we lost an uncle, a friend, a leader. We are still in shock and it’s been two years. It’s going to take a long time to recover from this," he said.
Robert Telles Sentenced to 28 Years for Murder of Journalist Jeff German
Telles, who spoke in court, denied any responsibility for German's death. "The family has my deepest condolences, Mr. German was very impactful in the community, he made a difference, and we know from testimony by the family that he was a good brother and a good uncle. And I understand the desire to seek justice and have somebody accountable for this," Telles said. "But I did not kill Mr. German. And unfortunately, the people who should be held responsible, who should be brought to justice, the chances of that happening now -- right this minute -- are slim to none. That said, again my deepest sympathies to the family and I wish them well as they navigate the rest of this tragedy."
Prosecutor Christopher Hamner argued during the trial that Telles killed German because his reporting had exposed corruption within Telles' office and threatened his career and reputation.
Robert Telles Sentenced to 28 Years for Murder of Journalist Jeff German
"And he did it because Jeff wasn’t done writing," Hamner said. "It’s like connecting the dots. He murdered him because Jeff's writing destroyed his career. It destroyed his reputation. It threatened probably his marriage. Exposed things that even he admitted he did not want the public to know."
Evidence presented at the trial included Telles' DNA being found beneath German's fingernails. The jury also heard testimony that Telles had hundreds of photos of German's home and neighborhood on his phone.
Robert Telles Sentenced to 28 Years for Murder of Journalist Jeff German
Telles testified at his trial, admitting to an office romance but denying any involvement in German's murder. He claimed he was "framed" by a broad conspiracy involving multiple parties, including a real estate company, police, DNA analysts, former co-workers, and others.
Telles' attorney, Robert Draskovich, has said Telles intends to appeal the conviction.
Robert Telles Sentenced to 28 Years for Murder of Journalist Jeff German
The murder of Jeff German has sent shockwaves through the Las Vegas community and highlighted the dangers faced by journalists who expose corruption. German's legacy as a fearless investigator and advocate for truth will continue to inspire and inform the work of journalists everywhere.
