Ex-Nevada politician found guilty of murdering journalist

MSNBC

A Nevada jury has found Robert Telles, a former local politician, guilty of murdering an investigative journalist who was reporting on alleged mismanagement of Telles' office months before he was killed.

Jurors convicted Telles of murder with use of deadly weapon on Wednesday, two days after deliberations began. As the verdict was read in court, Telles' gaze was lowered and he shook his head.

The trial will move into the penalty phase later on Wednesday, when jurors may hear additional testimony to determine Telles' sentence. He faces up to life in prison.

The verdict wraps a weekslong trial over Telles' role in the gruesome killing of veteran Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German in September 2022.

A former Democratic administrator of a Clark County office that handles unclaimed estates, Telles had been at the center of German's investigation into allegations of bullying and hostility. German also reported on the then-politician's alleged romantic relationship with a female employee. Telles denied the allegations at the time. He subsequently lost his re-election bid in the Democratic primary, and he later singled out German for criticism on social media.

Days after German was found dead with stab wounds in his home in September, Telles was arrested on suspicion of murder.

During the trial, jurors heard emotional testimony from German's neighbors, as well as Telles' allegations on the stand of a bizarre conspiracy against him. Telles maintained his innocence throughout, claiming that his office co-workers, a real estate company, prosecutors and Las Vegas police were trying to “frame” him for fighting corruption.

“I’m not crazy. I’m not trying to avoid responsibility,” Telles testified. “I didn’t kill Mr. German, and I’m innocent.”

Prosecutors disputed those claims during the trial, telling the jury that they simply “didn’t make sense.” German’s own attorney, Robert Draskovich, did not side with him, though he said in closing arguments that his client’s belief in a conspiracy against him was “understandable.”

“What other options does he have under these circumstances?” Draskovich asked.