A former Las Vegas-area Democratic politician convicted of murdering an investigative journalist who wrote a critical article about him was sentenced by a judge Wednesday to spend at least 28 years in prison before being eligible for parole. I was told that I had to spend it.
A judge sentenced Robert Telles to a minimum of 20 years to life in prison, which a jury set in August, after finding him guilty of killing Las Vegas Review Journal reporter Jeff Jarman outside his home over Labor Day weekend in 2022. The sentence was enhanced by an additional eight years.
Mr. German, 69, has covered crime, courts and corruption in Las Vegas for 44 years. At the time of German's death, Telles, 47, had been elected administrator of the Clark County office, which handles unclaimed estates and probate cases.
“We lost a brother, we lost an uncle, we lost a friend, we lost a mentor. We're still in shock, but it's been two years. It's going to take a long time to recover from this.” German's brother Jay told the court shortly before. Telles' verdict. “We have great concerns about the future safety of Robert Telles if he is released after just 20 years in prison.”
Juror says Telles' own testimony weakened defense in journalist murder case
Robert Telles made a statement during the sentencing hearing on Wednesday, October 16th. (KTNV)
Telles also spoke Wednesday and denied any responsibility for German's death.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the family. Mr. German was very influential and made a difference in the community. We know from the family's testimony that he was a good brother and a good uncle. I know. And I understand the desire for justice, and for someone to be held accountable for this,” Telles said. “But I did not kill Mr. Jarman. And unfortunately, the people who should be held accountable, the people who should be judged, right now, at this very moment, the chances of something like that happening are slim to none.” That being said, my thoughts are still with you, my heart goes out to the family and I wish them all the best as they navigate the rest of this tragedy.”
Telles lost his primary election for a second term in May and June 2022 after German reported on chaos at the Clark County Administrator/Conservator's office.
Clark County Administrator Robert Telles (right) speaks with Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German in his Las Vegas office on May 11, 2022. (KM Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal, via AP)
In one of them, written by a german Six current and former employees interviewed by the Review-Journal said the hostile work environment was fueled by the office's elected administrator, Robert Telles, and that staff members and “inappropriate employees” harmed the office. He claims that they continued a “relationship”. Ability to deal with the public in supervising the estate of a deceased person. ”
Prosecutor Christopher Hamner said in closing arguments in the murder trial that German's work to expose Telles was not done, ultimately leading the politician to eliminate the veteran journalist.
“He did it because Jeff hadn't finished writing,” Hamner said. “It's like connecting the dots. He killed Jeff because Jeff's writing ruined his career. It damaged his reputation. It probably threatened his marriage. He Even he revealed things that he did not want the public to know.
Telles had hundreds of photos of Germans' homes and neighborhoods, jurors were told.
Prosecutor Christopher Hamner, above right, said during the trial that Telles (left) killed German “because Jeff's writing ruined his career.” (KM Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal, Pool, main and top right, Elizabeth Brumley/Las Vegas Review-Journal via Getty.)
According to the Associated Press, Telles testified for several hours at trial and was the first to admit that the reports of an office romance were true. He denied killing the German nationals and said he was “framed” by a broader conspiracy involving real estate companies, police, DNA analysts and former colleagues. He told the jury he had become a victim of a campaign to root out corruption.
But that evidence included Telles' DNA found under German's fingernails.
German was found slashed and stabbed to death in the backyard outside his home, and Telles was criminally charged with “ambushing” German until he came outside.
Robert Telles listens to closing arguments in his murder trial at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas on August 26. (KM Cannon/Las Vegas Review Journal/Associated Press)
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Telles' attorney, Robert Draskovich, said Telles plans to appeal the conviction.
FOX News' Michael Dorgan and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
