LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The high-profile murder trial of a former Las Vegas politician accused of killing an investigative journalist continues Thursday as the defendant is expected to retake the stand to deliver testimony.

Former Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles spoke for just over 90 minutes on Thursday, the bulk of his testimony concerning his perception of wrongdoing involving estates managed by his office. He also told the jury that he had been framed for the killing of Las Vegas Review-Journal investigative reporter Jeff German, saying that he believed the killer knew what they were doing, pointing to the fact that he was not combat-trained

For his part, defense attorney Robert Draskovich did not ask Telles any questions during his testimony Thursday, as the former politician testified by narrative, meaning he simply shared his story.

Draskovich didn’t say why the decision was made for Telles to testify by narrative. However, 8 News Now Investigators sources said it could happen when a defense attorney feels uncomfortable or concerned about that defendant’s testimony.

Court began just before 10:45 a.m. on Thursday, with Telles retaking the stand, immediately calling for evidence that had apparently not been submitted. Telles then called for a photo of the suspected killer’s pants. After a long delay, he compared the jeans taken into evidence to the photo of the suspect, saying they did not match. Telles then complained about the temperature in the room when he was detained, saying he spent all day cold in a paper suit.

The defendant said the media surrounded his house. As Defense attorney Robert Draskovich showed photos of Telles’ home after the police search, Telles began sobbing on the stand.

He recounted his suicide attempt and the appearance of Detective Derek Jappe in the ambulance en route to the hospital, he said, to obtain a confession. He then told the jury that he was in jail and did not “have Photoshop” to modify images. Telles then recounted the day of Jeff German’s murder, saying he didn’t leave his home until 9 a.m., and recapped his Tweets about German’s reporting.

Telles then stood on the stand, saying, “I wear lifts in my shoes. Call it a vanity thing.” He claimed he could not put a lift in a name-brand show, explaining why he never wore name-brand shoes at the office. Telles described himself as 6’5″ tall.

He then said that he did not cut up a shoe and did not kill Jeff German, among other accusations levied against him. When the defendant attempted to testify to his observations regarding the killer, Judge Michelle Leavitt reminded him that he couldn’t offer opinion on the stand. Telles then attempted to justify his documented searches for German and Telles as a search engine optimization play.

He then said he didn’t “know why anyone would do that,” regarding numerous photos of German’s home and street found on Telles’ device. He said he didn’t know German’s address and didn’t do a Google Maps search.

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 to his neck and torso, according to police document

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