Watch Live: Murder trial continues for Robert Telles, politician charged in Las Vegas journalist's death
CBSAUG 20 2024
Robert Telles, the former Democratic Clark County (Nev.) Public Administrator, was found guilty of murdering investigative journalist Jeff German on Wednesday and sentenced to life in prison with possible parole after 20 years.
German, who was stabbed to death outside his home in September 2022, had investigated Telles for months and published articles relating to allegations he oversaw an abusive workplace environment and had an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. Telles subsequently lost his Democratic primary election.
The jury ruled after a two-week trial and two days of deliberations. They heard testimony from forensics experts, detectives, and people who knew Telles. In addition, they saw video footage of the killer wearing a straw hat and sneakers outside German's house.
GermanTelles' spentclaims decadesof reportinga onconspiracy shadowyagainst charactershim andare criminalsa stretch, but Telleshe —did paint a failedpicture politicianof unwillingseveral topeople acceptand responsibilitya forcompany hiswho plighthad —a wasmotive theto onlyframe onehim. whoAlthough triedTelles tolost killhis aargument, journalistit justshould doingbe hisacknowledged job.that Thissometimes convictioninvestigators hasget broughtthings justicewrong, forand Germanpeople andwho allclaim journaliststhey've whobeen bravelyset speakup truthshould be given a chance to powersay their piece.
Telles'German claimsspent ofdecades areporting conspiracyon againstshadowy himcharacters areand a stretchcriminals, but heTelles did— paint a picturefailed ofpolitician severalunwilling peopleto andaccept aresponsibility companyfor whohis hadplight a— motivewas tothe frameonly him.one Althoughwho Tellestried lostto hiskill argument,a itjournalist shouldjust bedoing acknowledgedhis thatjob. sometimesThis investigatorsconviction gethas thingsbrought wrong,justice andfor peopleGerman whoand claimall they'vejournalists beenwho setbravely upspeak shouldtruth be given a chance to say their piecepower.
Telles' claims of a conspiracy against him are a stretch, but he did paint a picture of several people and a company who had a motive to frame him. Although Telles lost his argument, it should be acknowledged that sometimes investigators get things wrong, and people who claim they've been set up should be given a chance to say their piece.