LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The trial of a former politician accused of stabbing a long-time Las Vegas investigative reporter to death in 2022 continues into day five Friday.
On Thursday, the gathering of evidence at Robert Telles’ home was pulled into focus. The former Clark County public administrator is accused of killing Jeff German, a Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter who was investigating alleged turmoil in Telles’ office. Prosecutors Chris Hamner and Pam Weckerly called Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department detectives, who were responsible for searching Telles’ residence, where evidence was found. That evidence included a hat matching that of the suspect that had been cut up, and shoes, matching those worn by the suspect, one of which had been partially destroyed and the other intact.
Defense attorney Robert Draskovich seemed to make the case that the search of Telles’ household was not well organized and allowed people who were not documented by law enforcement officials to access the areas where evidence was eventually found. Draskovich, who performed all witness cross-examinations, also questioned medical examiners, focusing mainly on the amount of blood that would have been present when German was killed.
For his part, Telles watched along with the court as graphic images of the deceased were shown to the jury and everyone present in court. The former politician visibly grimaced for much of the presentation.
Day five is expected to bring more key witnesses for the prosecution, as well as more cross-examination from Draskovich and the defense as the jury continues to hear evidence in what is expected to be a two-week trial.
Who is Robert Telles?
Robert Telles is a lawyer and former public official with Clark County. According to the county, Telles has lived in the area for at least 20 years. He was the focus of several investigative stories by Review-Journal investigative reporter Jeff German.
Telles graduated from UNLV’s Boyd School of Law in 2014. One year later he founded Accolade Law, which was located on West Charleston Boulevard between Rancho Drive and Valley View Boulevard and focused on estate planning and probate.
In 2018, Telles first ran for Clark County public administrator as a Democrat. He claimed victory over Republican candidate Thomas Fougere and took office in January 2019 to serve a four-year term, which ended on Jan. 2, 2023. Telles ran for re-election, losing to fellow Democrat Rita Reid.
His campaign was mired in controversy surrounding stories written by the Review-Journal, specifically German, who uncovered claims of bullying and retaliation within his office.
Who was Jeff German?
Jeff German had been an investigative reporter for the Las Vegas Review-Journal since 2010 after more than two decades at the Las Vegas Sun, where he was a columnist and reporter who covered courts, politics, labor, government, and organized crime.
Glenn Cook, the Review-Journal’s executive editor, said German was known to break big stories and develop “impactful investigations across every part of Southern Nevada life.”
German had published several stories about Telles’ office, saying it was in “turmoil” in the months leading up to his stabbing death on Labor Day weekend of 2022. German was found with seven stab wounds, including ones
