Former Democratic politician Robert Tellez, who was convicted last Wednesday of murdering Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German, convinced jurors of his guilt by testifying that he was enmeshed in a broader conspiracy, the jury foreman said.
Telles, 47, was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 20 years. Prosecutors say Telles was upset by Jarman's reporting and stabbed him to death on September 2, 2022. In the months before his death, Jarman had written an article critical of the Democrat and his workplace behavior, including allegations of an inappropriate romantic relationship with a female colleague.
Telles, meanwhile, claims that law enforcement and political opponents tried to frame him for the murder of a 69-year-old German man and put him behind bars.
“So when I went back there, I had a strong sense of guilt from the beginning,” said jury foreman Gregory Whitney. 8NewsNow “We just didn't find the evidence he wanted us to find.”
Robert announces sentence: Las Vegas Democrat convicted of murdering journalist receives life sentence
Clark County Executive Robert Tellez, right, talks with Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German in his office on May 11, 2022, in Las Vegas. (KM Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal via The Associated Press, File)
Whitney and the 11-person jury deliberated for the better part of three days, considering testimony from about 30 witnesses and 400 pieces of evidence, including photos, videos and police reports.
“I wanted people to know that we looked at everything from point A to point B and gave him the best shot possible,” Whitney said. “I didn't know anything about the guy personally, so I wasn't biased.”
Some jurors needed to be convinced there was enough evidence to prove Tellez was the killer, Whitney said. One juror initially couldn't decide, saying he couldn't believe someone could make “so many little mistakes,” Whitney said.
Las Vegas Democrat accused of murdering journalist testifies: “I am absolutely innocent”
Investigative reporter Jeff German poses for a portrait at the Las Vegas Review-Journal photo studio in Las Vegas on Jan. 19, 2017. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police officers discovered German's body, suffering from stab wounds, around 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, after authorities received a 911 call, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. (Elizabeth Brumley/Las Vegas Review-Journal via The Associated Press)
“It's something I'll never forget,” Whitney said. “I was looking at a lot of the evidence, and I saw things that I'll never forget, because this is not a normal case. It's something that I really, really don't think happened.”
“I am absolutely innocent,” Telles declared on August 22, testifying by “narration” rather than the usual question-and-answer format.
“I did not kill Mr. German,” Telles said. “It is my right to share my views with you all, and it is your right to decide whether you agree with my views or not, whether you doubt my views or not. I just hope that nothing will stop me from sharing with you what I have to say.”
Fox News Digital previously reported that Telles' lawyer, Robert Draskovich, had urged him not to take the stand and risk being questioned by prosecutors. Draskovich could not immediately be reached for comment on the verdict or the jury foreman's comments.
Las Vegas Democrat accused of murder says he had hundreds of photos of journalist's home and neighborhood
Robert Telles, who is charged with murder in the death of Las Vegas Review-Journal investigative reporter Jeff German, appears at a Review-Journal motion hearing at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022. Telles was convicted Aug. 28. (Bizayev Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal via The Associated Press)
Telles spoke at length to jurors about his background and then argued that the way German was killed indicated someone knew exactly what had done it.
“The idea that he slit Mr. Jarman's throat and stabbed him in the heart, I don't know if an untrained person could have done that,” Telles said. “Someone framed me, I believe it was Compass Real Estate, and this has to do with activities that I did with them.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Compass Realty for comment but could not immediately be reached.
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Fox 5 According to the report, Telles' family members appeared confused during his testimony while jurors meticulously took notes. At times, Telles' exhibits were not yet ready for the jury to see, and the judge ordered him to continue testifying, despite Telles's insistence that the jury needed to see them.
Telles faces a heavier sentence given that he used a deadly weapon and that the victim was over 60 years old.
Fox News Digital's Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.
