LAS VEGAS (Court TV) — Former Clark County public administrator Robert Telles was sentenced to life in prison after Las Vegas jury found him guilty of the murder of veteran journalist Jeff German.
Following the penalty phase, the jury recommended a sentence of life with parole eligibility after 26 years. The judge found two enhancements, one for the weapon used and one due to the victim’s age. She sentenced Telles to serve a consecutive 8 to 28 years before he was eligible for parole, with credit for time served.
Telles was arrested on Sept. 7, 2022, five days after a neighbor found German’s body outside his Las Vegas home. The 69-year-old victim, who was an investigative reporter for over 40 years, had suffered multiple stab wounds.
FILE – Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles, right, talks to Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German in his Las Vegas office, on May 11, 2022. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP, File)
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police were able to locate surveillance video of a possible suspect from a nearby home’s security camera. A person in a large straw sun hat and orange safety jacket was spotted walking to and from German’s house. Police also spotted a maroon Yukon Denali as the possible suspect’s vehicle. According to Telles’ arrest report, an SUV of that make, model and color was registered to Telles’ wife.
Investigators obtained a warrant to search Telles’ home and car, along with permission to take a DNA sample. A straw hat that had been cut into pieces was found in Telles’ home, along with a bloody sneaker that resembled the suspect’s footwear. Telles’ DNA was found under the victim’s fingernails.
Prosecutors argued Telles killed German because he was upset over articles German wrote for the Las Vegas Review-Journal about Telles’ alleged inappropriate relationship with a female staffer. Other Telles staffers also came forward to tell German about their hostile work environment, which he detailed in his reporting. Telles also lost the next election, which prosecutors point to as an additional motive.
MORE | What you need to know: The Robert Telles investigation
Telles pled not guilty to open murder. At trial, he maintained he was framed, and that evidence against him was planted by police and prosecutors.
DAILY TRIAL UPDATES
DAY 11 – 8/28/24
- The jury of 7 women and 5 men found Robert Telles guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced him to life in prison with parole eligibility after 20 years for the murder of investigative reporter Jeff German.
- The verdicts brought tears of relief to German’s supporters, a group of women who distinguished themselves by wearing red and held vigil at the courthouse during jury deliberations. Some of them claimed they had been harassed and bullied by Telles, their allegations became fodder for unflattering articles that German wrote and published in the Las Vegas Review Journal, prompting the revenge killing that prosecutors say Telles planned and executed on September 2, 2022.
- After their verdict, jurors were asked to consider punishment and heard testimony from German’s siblings who described the impact his murder had on their lives.
- “It’s been really stressful,” said Jay German, Jeff’s brother. “We loved him, he was our older brother, the leader. We miss him.”
- Jay was followed by Jeff’s two sisters who showed pictures of the journalist with their children, and described Jeff as being a loving, doting Uncle who enjoyed spending time with the family, was always ready to offer guidance to his younger siblings and loved being an investigative reporter.
- Jill Zwerg the youngest of the siblings, told the jury Jeff got her a job at the Review Journal and when she got engaged, the first person she wanted to tell was Jeff.
- “The Vegas community and the world of journalism has lost an amazing and relentless reporter,” she said. “He was loyal, loving and kind.”
- The jury also heard from Telles’ wife, ex-wife and mother. The women praised his parenting, and the love and care he gave to his children. They pleaded with the jury to return a sentence that would offer him a chance at parole.
- His wife of 14 years Mary Ann Ismael said that like any marriage they had their ups and downs but it was ‘good overall.’
- She did not address the fact that her husband had cheated on her with a colleague, but instead testified that Telles had a strong work ethic and worked hard to provide for their family.
- “Robert is an amazing father,” she told the jury. “..he continues to foster the relationship with his children even while in detention. “I would love for my children not to lose that for the rest of their lives.”
- Tonia Burton, Telles’ ex-wife with whom he shares a 16-year-old daughter testified that from the time their daughter was diagnosed with Diabetes, he has kept up with every new treatment that could benefit her.
- “He is a very hands-on dad,” she said. “I hope one day he can walk her down the aisle I would like him to have the chance to be there for her.”
- Telles wiped away tears as his wife and former wife talked about the relationship he had with his children. His mother Rosalinda Anaya also made an emotional appeal to the jury.
- “I accept the verdict, please give him a chance for parole, I would like to someday be back with him.”
- WATCH: Robert Telles’ Mother Makes Emotional Plea at Penalty Phase
- Before she left the courtroom, she turned to him and said, “I love you son,” prompting him to put his face in his hands and sob.
- Robert Drascovich urged jurors to return a sentence of 20 to 50 years the least harsh of the penalties for first degree murder.
- Prosecutor Christopher Hamner suggested a life sentence was appropriate and left it up to jurors to decide whether he should be parole eligible.
- WATCH: Investigative Reporter Murder Trial: Penalty Phase Closing Arguments
- It took the jury one hour and 17 minutes to return a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 20 years.
- WATCH: Jury Recommends Sentence for Robert Telles
- The judge has set a sentencing date of October 16, when she will decide the punishment for the sentencing enhancements the jury found. The use of a dangerous weapon, and abuse of an elderly person exposes Telles to additional years before he can become parole eligible.
DAY 10 – 8/27/24
- Jurors returned a note with a series of questions two hours into their deliberations Tuesday.
- Jurors requested a second laptop to view the digital evidence, asked for the side by sidewalk of the suspect used by the prosecutor in his rebuttal, and requested the story that victim Jeff German wrote that included video inserts.
DAY 9 – 8/26/24
- Jurors deliberated for just over 4 hours without reaching a verdict in the case against former city official Robert Telles. About 2.5 hours into their deliberations, they asked for more paper and ‘how to zoom in on the videos.’
- Defense Attorney Robert Draskovich in his closing argued the State had not proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt and questioned the identity of the suspect by zooming in on a video of the driver in the suspect’s car. He urged jurors to look closely at the profile of the driver who he suggested had a full head of hair and glasses – bearing no resemblance to his client.
- The State contends that the defendant had disguised his appearance to look like a worker on a sewer project that had been ongoing in Jeff German’s neighborhood. Prosecutor argued Telles was caught on video encountering someone on the project, while driving his vehicle, he did not get out of his car and instead drove away when approached.
- The jury’s request for ‘how to zoom into the videos’ prompted the judge to order the State to call its IT professional, who in turn was escorted to the deliberation room to show the jurors how to use zoom on their laptop.
- In its closing prosecutors attacked the defendant’s theory that he was being framed and asked the jury to focus on the evidence that Telles could not explain, such as his DNA in the fingernails of the victim, searches on his work computer for German’s personal info, images of German’s house and google maps on his phone.
- Prosecutors argued Telles was deeply bothered by the articles German wrote, and bitter that they had cost him his re-election as public administrator. German was planning yet another article that could potentially threaten his marriage. The State argued that no one had a motive to kill German except Telles, and if Compass Realty did view Telles as a threat to its business, he was no longer a threat after Telles lost the primary.
- In addition to questioning the identity of the driver of the suspect’s vehicle, defense suggested that the lack of injuries to Telles and the lack of blood on his person, clothes, or car should persuade jurors that Telles was not the killer.
DAY 8 – 8/23/24
- In his final narrative Robert Telles told jurors that he was not the kind of man who could go about his daily business such as going to the gym and picking up his children after brutally killing a man.
- “I do not engage in crime. But if I wanted to do something while not being caught on camera, and I knew there was a camera right across the way I wouldn’t do it,” said Telles. “If I knew there was a camera right across the way I certainly would find another means of transportation besides using my own vehicle.”
- Telles also tried to explain away the incriminating items that he said were ‘allegedly’ found in his house.
- “I did not buy a straw hat, I did not buy a construction shirt, my finances were fully investigated and there was no evidence of that.” He noted that there was no bodycam evidence of the police search of his home.
- He said police leaked information about the hat and shoes as well as the DNA evidence but didn’t leak the google maps, photos of German’s house and personal information that were found on his phone even though police were in possession of that evidence.
- “Again, I reiterate that I did not know Mr. German’s address and whoever plugged that in obviously knew Mr. German’s address,” he said. “I didn’t know Mr. German’s schedule I would not know he would be home at that particular time apparently the killer did.”
- Telles also addressed his affair with Roberta Lee-Kennett denying that its impending disclosure drove him to murder German. He reminded jurors that German would not have received any of the personal emails between him and Lee-Kennett, therefore German could not have written anything more damaging to him.
- On cross the prosecutor suggested that the emails would not have been German’s only source of information and ridiculed German’s theory that he was being framed, noting that Telles has suggested an expansive conspiracy that includes people in his office, law enforcement, the district attorney and Compass Realty.
- His narrative concluded with two questions from jurors who asked:
- “Were you concerned that your wife would get knowledge of the affair before you get to tell her about it yourself, or did she only find out after Mr. German’s murder took place?”
- “Telles: She actually did find out beforehand. I made a mistake; it is what it is. As far as my wife is concerned and my family is concerned. They did forgive me for what happened.”
- “How tall are you without lifts?”
- Telles: 5 foot 6.5.
- “Were you concerned that your wife would get knowledge of the affair before you get to tell her about it yourself, or did she only find out after Mr. German’s murder took place?”
DAY 7 – 8/22/24
- Robert Telles took the witness stand for the second straight day to maintain his innocence and advance his alibi he was at home on September 2, 2022, when Jeff German was murdered.
- Telles said he spent the morning at home, took a walk around 10 and then went to the gym signing in at 12:09. He conceded the person captured on video walking on the street wearing a straw hat, orange jacket, and Nikes was the killer, but denied a similar hat and shoes found at his house made him the suspect.
- Telles asked that pictures of his house following the police search be displayed for the jury, and during their presentation he burst into tears, and said he found his wife ‘sitting in the middle of this mess.’
- On cross examination Deputy District Attorney Christopher Hamner grilled the defendant on every aspect of his testimony from his alibi to his motive ridiculing the defendant’s contention that the murder was a professional hit job.
- Hamner noted that the so called ‘assassin’ drove a vehicle that happened to look exactly like the defendant’s and was captured on video wearing bright orange and a big hat entering the victim’s property and after the killing returned to the scene of the crime.
- “You believe professionals assassins like to draw attention to themselves,” said Hamner. “Yes, if they’re trying to frame someone,” replied Telles.
- Telles downplayed the impact of the articles, saying he ‘wasn’t happy,’ and they were a ‘bummer,’ but he never threatened German or hated him enough to kill him. Hamner suggested Telles was far more bothered than he let on, taking jurors through the timeline of German’s articles coinciding with the appearance of photos on his phone of German’s home and personal information.
- Hamner read a text Telles exchanged with his employee Nichole Lofton. Telles wrote that he worried the articles would follow him and destroy his chances at future employment.
- The prosecutor noted that the day after Telles was notified that German had made a public records request for emails exchanged between him and his lover Roberta Lee -Kennett, German was murdered.
- Finally, during cross-examination Hamner vigorously challenged the defendant’s alibi, noting that while there was incoming activity on his phone from 8:48 AM to 2:05 PM, there was no outgoing activity and pointed to one message that did not appear on Telles’ phone but was captured on his wife’s apple watch. At 10:35 AM Telles received a message from his wife that read ‘Where are you?” The message went unanswered. Telles said he was out on his walk, but the State contends he could not answer that text because he captured on video at that time driving in German’s neighborhood and had deliberately left the phone at home to avoid location detection.
- WATCH: Investigative Reporter Murder Trial: Robert Telles Cross Examined (part 1)
- WATCH: Investigative Reporter Murder Trial: Robert Telles Cross Examined (part 2)
DAY 6 – 8/21/24
- Defendant Robert Telles took the stand and testified that he is innocent and is being framed for the murder of Jeff German by a Realty Company that he suspected was ripping off heirs to estate homes the company was flipping.
- Telles testified by narrative—taking no questions from his attorney, making his statement in rambling fashion, occasionally referring to his notes and calling for exhibits that he says support his claim that he is being framed.
- Telles said Compass Realty turned a $6 million dollar profit reselling estate homes, claiming that in one instance the company resold a house the same day and pocketed $50k.
- He was concerned the company was potentially cheating heirs out of the fair market value of a home by ripping out floors and a kitchen before it was appraised.
- Telles said his investigation interfered with the realty’s business and when he was charged with murder – their problems went away.
- The Defendant opined that the way German was killed–slashed in the throat and stabbed in the heart—speaks to a killer with combat and or medical training, which he says he has none.
- Telles said he was shocked by German’s murder and referenced a text exchange with Roberta Lee-Kennett. In the exchange she said a picture of the suspect’s car had front rims that didn’t match the back rims. He explained it couldn’t be his vehicle because all his rims matched.
- The next day he said he washed all three of his cars and explained he wouldn’t be washing his cars if he had a serious injury to his hand. He stated–over the objection of the prosecutor –that there is video of him washing his vehicles and that you can see no injury to his hand.
- Telles said the injury was caused when he was making lunch for his daughter, and cut his finger chopping. He used glue to mend his cut finger and scissors to cut the top off the super glue tube.
- Defense called a Planet Fitness employee who testified that Telles had signed into his gym at 12:09 pm on September 2, 2022. (The attack occurred around 11:20 AM).
- A defense cell phone expert testified that Telles’ phone did not ping anywhere near Bronze Circle where Jeff German lived, nor did his phone record any media locations during the month of August – supporting defense contention that he did not research German’s location or was he anywhere near German’s home in the weeks leading up to his murder.
- A former employee of Telles’ testified that he was not angered and sought no retaliation after German’s articles were published. Nichole Lofton testified she felt the division in the office as soon as she arrived and testified that she was bullied by other women in the office.
DAY 5 – 8/20/24
- Defense begins its case by calling a forensic psychologist who testified that an attempt at suicide by an accused does not mean a guilty conscience.
- A woman claims she saw a ‘creepy man’ that matched the description of the suspect at a local park on August 28, 2022, about a week before Jeff German was murdered. She reported the sighting after police released photos of the suspect and testified that he appeared suspicious because he was covered from head to toe, wore gloves and a straw hat on a very hot day in Las Vegas.
- Judge Michelle Leavitt addressed the defendant to advise him of his right to testify, Robert Telles responded that he understood his rights but she stopped short of asking if he would testify in his own defense. The judge is expected to ask him tomorrow.
DAY 4 – 8/19/24
- Prosecutors rested their case-in-chief after calling the lead detective whose testimony suggested that in the weeks before the murder of Jeff German, the defendant researched the location of the victim’s home and his neighborhood before confronting him on September 2, 2022.
- Lead investigator Justine Gatus testified that dozens of photos of Jeff German’s neighborhood were taken over a period of a few hours and only from a particular vantage point at street level.
- Text exchanges between German and Telles after unflattering articles were published suggest Telles was angry and felt he was being unfairly treated by German and denounced his reporting in social media posts and on his campaign website.
- A forensic analysis of Telles’ phone and work computer revealed dozens of photos of German’s home, neighborhood, and images of German’s personal information from a data site.
- Defense suggested police rushed to judgement and targeted Telles early in their investigation. Defense noted pictures taken of Telles in nothing but his underwear show no visible injuries except to his left hand – and defense contends he is right-handed -police never asked Telles which was his dominant hand.
- The defense played two audio files recovered from German’s phone that were profanity-laced and threatening made by two unidentified males.
- WATCH: Robert Telles Expected to Testify in Own Defense
DAY 3 – 8/16/24
- A forensic scientist testified Robert Telles DNA was found under the victim’s right fingernail clippings.
- Jeff German’s articles angered the defendant and ultimately cost him his re-election as the city’s public administrator according to a colleague who worked with Telles. She testified Telles hated German because of the scandal his articles caused.
- A Detective said he investigated claims Telles brought to him in March 2022 that the Realty company that was selling estate homes for his office was corrupt, while also investigating complaints from members of his office that he was taking kickbacks and bribes.
- The detective found no evidence to support that Telles was taking kickbacks, and the Realty company’s practices appeared suspect but did not violate the law as it was written.
- SWAT was called to remove Telles from his house after he barricaded himself in his bathroom and made statements about harming himself. A SWAT officer using a drone and robot saw that Telles had dropped a knife that he used to cut himself and was covered in blood when they arrested him. He was carried out of the house and taken to the hospital for treatment.
DAY 2 – 8/15/24
- Real estate agents who worked with Robert Telles testified the gait and build of the suspect made them think it could be Telles, but they dismissed the idea until one of them saw pictures of the suspect’s car which convinced him to call police and report his suspicions.
- A search of the defendant’s house uncovered items that appeared to match what the suspect wore on the day of Jeff German’s murder.
- The medical examiner who performed German’s autopsy testified he suffered 13 stab wounds including wounds to his heart, lung, and kidney. Cuts to his hands and forearm suggest he tried to fend off the attack before he was fatally wounded.
- Crime Scene Analyst photographed Robert Telles on September 7, five days after the attack on German. The photos revealed an injury to his left ring finger and a bruise on his shoulder.
DAY 1 – 8/14/24
- Prosecutor Pam Weckerly told jurors in her opening that the State’s evidence includes DNA found in the victim’s fingernails is consistent with the defendant, and a search of the defendant’s home uncovered clothing that was similar to the clothing worn by the suspect who was captured on videotape attacking Jeff German.
- Defense Attorney Robert Draskovich said evidence from his client’s home could be planted and that Robert Telles as the city’s public administrator had vowed to clean up the office and his exhaustive investigation into corrupt practices had made him unpopular.
- Jeff German’s neighbors break down recalling how their angst over what seemed like unlikely behavior led to the discovery of his battered body outside his home.
- A homicide detective canvassed neighborhood for surveillance videos and cobbled together a video timeline of the suspect’s movements culminating in his attack against the victim at his home in broad daylight.
