A jury in Nevada found former Clark County official Robert Telles guilty Wednesday for the 2022 murder of a Las Vegas journalist who wrote articles that were critical of him.
Jurors deliberated for nearly 12 hours after hearing evidence in the trial that started Aug. 12 connected to the stabbing death of Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German, The Associated Press reported. Telles was arrested several days after German was found stabbed to death on Labor Day weekend in 2022.
Telles, 47, was sentenced to life in prison with parole eligibility at 20 years by the jury later Wednesday.
Months before his death, German wrote an article describing employees’ experiences with Telles, the former Clark County public administrator. He reported on complaints of administrative bullying, showing favoritism and a romantic relationship with another employee in Telles’s office.
Telles lost his June 2022 primary shortly after some of German’s reporting was published. Prosecutors made their case to the jurors by emphasizing how German fought his attacker and suggested Telles blamed him for damaging his career, according to the AP.
Prosecutor Christopher Hamner emphasized during closing arguments the evidence prosecutors already presented to the jury, including the discovery of DNA underneath German’s fingernails that matched Telles, the AP reported. They also showed other evidence, including Telles’s SUV apparently leaving his own house that day and later driving on streets near German’s house.
Telles testified last week that he was innocent and maintained he did not kill German.
“I didn’t kill Mr. German,” Telles said, according to the AP. “When I share an opinion with you, that’s my right. And it’s your right to decide whether or not you agree with my opinion or not, whether you want to doubt my opinion or not. I’m just hoping that I’m not stopped from sharing with you what I have to say.”
Defense attorney Robert Draskovich said Telles will appeal, the AP reported.
The Associated Press contributed.