On September 3, 2022, a Vegas based journalist was killed by a Nevada County official and the trial is just beginning, 2 years later.
Jeff German, 69, was found outside his home with 7 stab wounds, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Only 69 news media workers were killed in 2022, including German.
A SWAT operation was conducted on September 7, 2024 on Robert Telles where he was arrested that night. Telles, a former Clark County Public Administrator, accused German of destroying his career and marriage.
German spent 4 decades writing for the Las Vegas Review-Journal and the Las Vegas Sun. He covered stories across the city, courthouses, and its government. Officials said during a press conference on Thursday that Telles caught the police’s attention due to his frustration with articles published by German media. Afterward, they discovered a car parked outside Telles’ residence that resembled the car linked to the suspect.
Police said they got positive DNA results from Telles from the murder scene, and they moved in to make the arrest on Wednesday. Prosecutors said Telles’ DNA was found on German’s hands and fingernails.
Telles, now 47, denies the murder charges and may be sentenced to life imprisonment if found guilty. He stated that he did not murder the German, was set up, and that the police mishandled the inquiry.
Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson, who was familiar with German, stated on Monday that Nevada is anticipating justice being served for Jeff and his family. Authorities are not pursuing capital punishment.
Las Vegas Sheriff Joseph Lombardo has stated that this is an “unusual” case and “the killing of a journalist is particularly troublesome.”
“It is troublesome because it is a journalist. And we expect journalism to be open and transparent and the watchdog for government,” said Lombardo. “And when people take it upon themselves to create harm associated with that profession, I think it’s very important we put all eyes on and address the case appropriately such as we did in this case.”
Telles pleaded not guilty and the jury was selected Monday and Tuesday with opening arguments starting Wednesday.
