Former Las Vegas-area Democratic official Robert Telles has been sentenced to at least 28 years in prison for the murder of investigative journalist Jeff German. Telles was found guilty of stabbing German to death in 2022 after articles critical of Telles were published by German that exposed an intimate relationship with a coworker. Telles maintained his innocence during sentencing, but evidence, including Telles’ DNA found on German’s body, pointed to his guilt.
Telles, who lost his primary for a second term in office following German’s reports, intends to appeal his conviction. German, a respected journalist with 44 years of experience covering crime and corruption, was killed at the age of 69. Telles’ attorney suggested that Telles was framed by a conspiracy involving various parties, but the jury found him guilty after deliberating for nearly 12 hours.
The district attorney is hopeful that Telles will remain behind bars for life, noting his lack of remorse for the murder. German is the only journalist killed in the U.S. in 2022, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. The conviction of Telles sends a strong message that violence against journalists will not be tolerated.
Telles’ sentencing includes enhancements for the use of a deadly weapon, lying in wait, and the age of the victim. Despite maintaining innocence, Telles faces a lengthy prison sentence for the murder of Jeff German.
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