Last Wednesday, former Democratic politician Robert Telles was convicted in the murder of Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German. Telles, 47, was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 20 years for stabbing German to death on Sept. 2, 2022. Prosecutors alleged that Telles committed the crime due to anger over German's critical reporting on him and his workplace conduct.
During the trial, Telles claimed he was framed in a broad conspiracy involving law enforcement and political rivals. The jury foreman, Gregory Whitney, revealed that jurors deliberated for three days, reviewing testimony from 30 witnesses and 400 pieces of evidence, including photos, videos, and police reports.
Whitney emphasized the thoroughness of the jury's review process, stating that they wanted to ensure they considered all evidence objectively. Despite initial doubts among some jurors, the weight of the evidence ultimately convinced them of Telles' guilt.
Telles, who maintained his innocence throughout the trial, testified that he did not kill German and suggested that the murder was orchestrated by Compass Realty in retaliation for his work against them. His attorney had advised against Telles taking the stand.
Telles will face additional sentencing for using a deadly weapon and the age of his victim, who was over 60 years old. The trial proceedings were marked by Telles' impassioned defense and the jury's meticulous examination of the evidence presented.
