Posted on: October 16, 2024, 01:42h.
Last updated on: October 16, 2024, 01:57h.
Robert Telles, a former Clark County Public Administrator, who was sentenced to 20 years to life in August for stabbing Las Vegas newspaper reporter Jeff German to death in 2022, received additional prison time Wednesday in Eighth Judicial District Court.
Judge Michelle Leavitt added eight years to Telles’ sentence for two enhancements — one for murder with a deadly weapon and the other because German was over 60 years old.
Having already served two years, Telles, 47, won’t be eligible for parole for another 26, when he is 73.
Overwhelming Evidence
Telles was convicted of first-degree murder for plotting German’s death after stories the reporter wrote for the Las Vegas Review-Journal revealed a toxic work environment created by Telles in his office, in addition to an affair he had with a staffer.
Telles admitted that these articles probably cost him his last election.
The evidence against Telles’ not guilty plea was overwhelming. It included skin with his DNA found underneath German’s fingernails and a photo of a text sent to Telles from his wife from her Apple Watch.
It read, “Where are you?” It was sent at 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 2, 2022.
This is the time that security footage showed a maroon SUV resembling Telles’ being driven near German’s house by a man, wearing an orange outfit and a straw hat, whom even Telles referred to several times as German’s killer. A similar straw hat was found by police, cut up, in Telles’ garage.
Telles chose to address the court himself on Wednesday. That’s an opportunity that most attorneys advise their convicted clients to decline, and Telles demonstrated why.
As he turned to face his victim’s still-grieving family, Telles conveyed his “deepest condolences,” adding that German was, “you know, very impactful in the community, he made a difference.”
Then Telles continued to assert his innocence, placing his welfare above any consideration for the people he chose to devastate.
“I understand the desire to seek justice and have somebody accountable for this,” Telles said, “but I did not kill Mr. German.”
