Ex-politician Robert Telles found guilty of killing journalist Jeff German as video shows him lying in wait in disguise
EX-POLITICIAN Robert Telles has been found guilty of murder in the death of investigative journalist Jeff German.
After deliberating for two days, a jury found Telles guilty of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon against a victim 60 or older.
Telles, who was previously an elected official in Clark County, Nevada, now faces up to life in prison.
The jury decision comes two years after German, a Las Vegas journalist, was found dead outside his home with several stab wounds.
German had previously written multiple articles that were critical of Telles, a Democrat who had been elected in 2018.
The trial concluded on Friday, with the jury having heard from 28 witnesses from the prosecution and six from the defense.
Telles himself also took the stand, claiming he had been framed in the murder of the journalist.
He accused former colleagues, real estate agents, business owners, and the police as being a part of the alleged scheme, according to CBS News.
“I’m not crazy. I’m not trying to avoid responsibility,” Telles said in court Friday.
“I didn’t kill Mr. German, and I’m innocent.”
Prior to German’s death, the journalist had published a series of condemning investigative stories on Telles and his office.
The stories were published just before Telles lost reelection in June 2022.
At the time, German had detailed claims that the elected official created a hostile work environment and engaged in an “inappropriate relationship” with a member of his staff.
The week German was killed, he had been working on a follow-up story about Telles.
An investigation into German’s death unearthed surveillance video footage of a person wearing a straw hat and bright orange vest near the journalist’s home.
Prosecutors claimed to the jurors that the person in the video was in fact Telles.
How was Robert Telles caught?
Robert Telles, a former Nevada politician, was convicted of the murder of a Las Vegas journalist who was killed in 2022.
Investigative journalist Jeff German was found dead outside his home in September 2022.
German had written a series of condemning investigative stories about Telles and his office.
Surveillance footage appeared to show a person wearing a large sun hat and orange vest entering German’s sideyard at the time he was killed.
After a few minutes, the individual was seen exiting the yard and getting into a maroon SUV.
Investigators later discovered a similar car at Telles’ home.
After executing a search warrant, officials found items that appeared to be similar to the ones seen in the surveillance footage including a cut-up straw sun hat and a duffel bag.
Telles was arrested shortly after.
“That person stays, lying in wait, for Jeff German,” Clark County Deputy District Attorney Pamela Weckerly said.
“Mr. German opens his garage, goes into that side yard, and he is attacked.”
The footage was captured from a neighbor’s camera, with a view of German’s sideyard blocked.
In the video, bushes can be seen rustling and after around two minutes, the person wearing the orange vest reemerges.
While the individual begins walking down a sidewalk and into a maroon SUV, German never again appears.
Just a few days after the incident, investigators discovered that a similar vehicle was parked outside Telles’ home, where the former politician was washing the car.
Telles was arrested shortly after.
As the investigation continued, officials searched the Democrat’s home and garage finding items that appeared similar to what was seen in the surveillance video including a duffel bag and cut-up straw sun hat.
Prosecutors also pointed to DNA evidence found under German’s fingernails, which they matched to Telles’ DNA.
YEARS-LONG DENIAL
Telles, who pleaded not guilty, has long denied killing the journalist, previously claiming to CBS News that the evidence discovered was planted.
“I say that evidence or so-called evidence was planted along with the other items allegedly found in my home as well,” he said.
“And we will go ahead and prove that at trial.”
When arguing for his defense, Telles’ attorneys pointed to the lack of blood and DNA from German being found on Telles, his vehicle, or home.
You know, the idea that Mr. German’s throat was slashed and his heart was stabbed… I am not the kind of person who would stab someone. I didn’t kill Mr. German.
Robert Telles
The defense also argued that the person shown in the surveillance video had a different silhouette to that of Telles.
As Telles accused others of conspiring against him, he was unable to provide evidence of his allegations.
“You know, the idea that Mr. German’s throat was slashed and his heart was stabbed. … I am not the kind of person who would stab someone. I didn’t kill Mr. German,” Telles said, per NBC News.
“And that’s my testimony.”
In the end, it wasn’t enough to convince the jury.
The jury began deliberating on Monday and returned their verdict Wednesday afternoon.
As the decision was read, Telles was seen bowing and shaking his head, according to NBC News.
Prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty in Telles’ case.
Instead, he may face life in prison without parole, life in prison with parole eligibility after 20 years, or anywhere between 20 and 50 years in prison, according to the Associated Press.