Former Nevada Politician Robert Telles Testifies, Insists on Innocence in Journalist’s Murder Trial

Murder In The Morning | Daily True Crime News

In a gripping courtroom scene, Robert Telles, a former Clark County Public Administrator, took the stand to assert his innocence in the murder trial of Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German. Telles, 47, has been accused of fatally stabbing German in September 2022 following a series of critical articles about Telles' office. He pleaded not guilty to murder with the use of a deadly weapon and has claimed throughout the trial that he was framed.
"I want to say, unequivocally, I am innocent, I didn’t kill Mr. German," Telles told the jury during his testimony, which was marked by frequent interruptions due to objections from the prosecution. Telles, who was not questioned by a defense attorney, repeatedly stated that he was "nervous" and described the ordeal as a "nightmare."
Telles’ defense has argued that he was targeted because he tried to expose corruption in his role as Clark County Public Administrator. “It’d be quite a coincidence, the fact that Mr. German was killed and it was put on me, that they just had a serendipitous benefit from that,” Telles said, suggesting that others had something to gain from framing him for the crime.
The trial, which has drawn significant attention due to the nature of the crime and the victim’s profession, comes nearly two years after German’s death. Prosecutors have painted a picture of a disgruntled Telles, enraged by German’s reporting, meticulously planning the attack. They allege that Telles disguised himself, hid outside German’s home, and attacked the journalist when he arrived. The prosecution’s case has relied heavily on video and physical evidence, including DNA found under German’s fingernails, linking Telles to the crime.
In contrast, the defense has portrayed Telles as a victim of a conspiracy, insisting that he was framed because he attempted to reform the public administrator's office, upsetting the “Old Guard.” Defense attorney Robert Draskovich argued in his opening statement that “From the get-go, they are concerned with Robert Telles, and Robert Telles alone,” suggesting that the investigation was biased from the start.
Jeff German, 69, was a seasoned investigative reporter known for his hard-hitting stories on Las Vegas’s underworld, including mobsters and corrupt officials. German’s reporting on Telles had focused on allegations of a hostile work environment and an inappropriate relationship Telles allegedly had with a staffer. These reports contributed to Telles’ loss in the Democratic primary for re-election in June 2022. German was reportedly working on another story about Telles at the time of his death.
The prosecution has presented a robust case, including surveillance footage from the morning of German’s murder. The video shows a person dressed in a large sunhat, orange jacket, and gray Nike sneakers—attire that was later found, cut up, in Telles’ home. The person in the video is seen lurking around German’s property, and a maroon SUV, matching one owned by Telles’ family, was captured on video near the scene.
Prosecutors also pointed to the timing of the murder, noting that German had made a public records request just hours before his death, potentially exacerbating tensions between him and Telles. They also revealed that Telles had been searching for information about German online in the days leading up to the murder.
Despite the evidence, Telles’ defense remains firm in their claim of his innocence, questioning the integrity of the police investigation and suggesting that the evidence was planted. Draskovich noted that the items found in Telles’ home had no blood on them, raising doubts about their connection to the crime. “There is no rational explanation as to why the hat and shoes were cut into pieces, except that they would be easier to conceal and plant,” Draskovich argued.
As the trial progresses, the jury will have to weigh the compelling evidence presented by the prosecution against Telles’ testimony and the defense’s theory of a conspiracy. The case has also highlighted broader concerns about the safety of journalists in the United States, with German being one of the few reporters killed while on the job in recent years. The trial is set to continue, with Telles expected to resume his testimony.
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