It’s the kind of story that feels like a rejected script for a dark political thriller. But for the people living in Clark County, the case of Robert Telles in Las Vegas was a grim, multi-year reality that ended in one of the most high-profile murder convictions the city has ever seen.
Imagine an elected official, a guy whose job was literally to manage the estates of the deceased, sitting in a courtroom and trying to convince a jury that he was the victim of a massive, shadowy conspiracy.
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Robert Telles was the Clark County Public Administrator. He was a Democrat, an attorney, and, by most accounts before 2022, a man on a standard upward political trajectory. Then he met Jeff German. Or rather, he met the sharp end of German’s reporting.
The Reporter Who Knew Too Much
Jeff German wasn't just any journalist. He was a titan in the Las Vegas media world, a guy who had spent forty years digging up dirt on the mob, corrupt politicians, and everyone in between. If you were doing something shady in Vegas, Jeff German was the man you didn't want knocking on your door.
In early 2022, German started looking into Telles' office. He didn't find anything glamorous. Instead, he found a toxic mess. Employees at the Public Administrator’s office were miserable. They talked about bullying, a hostile work environment, and—the kicker—an inappropriate relationship between Telles and a subordinate, Roberta Lee-Kennett.
The stories German published in the Las Vegas Review-Journal didn't just hurt Telles’ feelings. They nuked his career.
Telles lost his re-election bid in the June 2022 primary. He blamed German. He didn't just blame him; he fixated on him. He took to social media, railing against the reporter, calling the stories "smear pieces." But while Telles was venting on X (then Twitter), German was still working. He had filed more public records requests. He was looking for even more evidence of Telles’ misconduct.
He never got to finish that story.
September 2, 2022: The Ambush
On a hot Friday morning, Jeff German was outside his home. Security footage would later show a figure wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat and a bright orange reflective vest—the kind of thing a construction worker might wear to blend into a neighborhood.
This person wasn't there to fix a road.
The assailant slipped into German's side yard and waited. When German walked around the corner of his house, he was ambushed. It was a brutal, personal attack. German was stabbed seven times. He was 69 years old.
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He was found dead the next day by a neighbor.
The investigation into the Robert Telles Las Vegas connection moved with surprising speed. Police released images of the "construction worker" and a vehicle of interest: a maroon GMC Yukon Denali.
Local reporters, including German's own colleagues at the Review-Journal, did their own digging. They remembered Telles’ hatred for German. They went to Telles’ house. There, in the driveway, sat a maroon GMC Yukon Denali.
Telles was seen washing the car.
The Trial and the Conspiracy Theory
When the police finally moved in, they found things that were hard to explain away. At Telles' house, they discovered a straw hat and gray sneakers that had been cut into pieces—matching the items seen on the surveillance video.
But the "smoking gun" was microscopic.
DNA matching Robert Telles was found under Jeff German’s fingernails. It suggested that in his final moments, the veteran reporter had fought back. He had literally captured his killer’s identity.
The trial, which took place in August 2024, was honestly surreal. Telles decided to testify in his own defense. For hours, he spun a narrative that felt more like a movie plot than a legal defense. He claimed he was "framed" by a vast network of enemies, including a real estate company he claimed to be investigating, the police, and even his own colleagues.
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He told the jury he was a "whistleblower" being silenced.
The jury didn't buy it. After nearly 12 hours of deliberation, they found him guilty of first-degree murder.
The Sentence: How Long Will Telles Serve?
In October 2024, the legal saga reached its peak when Judge Michelle Leavitt handed down the final sentence. While the jury had recommended life with the possibility of parole after 20 years, the judge wasn't quite finished.
She added "enhancements." In Nevada, if you use a deadly weapon or the victim is over 60, the judge can tack on extra time. Because Telles was "lying in wait" for a senior citizen with a knife, she added a consecutive 8 to 28 years.
Basically, Robert Telles won't even be eligible for a parole hearing until he has served at least 28 years.
He is currently 48 years old. He'll be in his mid-70s before he even has a chance to see the outside of a prison cell.
Why the Robert Telles Case Still Matters
This wasn't just another murder in a city known for crime. It was a direct attack on the First Amendment. Jeff German was killed because he was doing his job—holding a public official accountable.
There are a few key takeaways from this case that often get lost in the sensational headlines:
- The Power of Local Journalism: German’s work changed the lives of the employees in that office who were being bullied. It cost him his life, but it proved that even "small" offices like the Public Administrator's matter.
- The Digital Paper Trail: Telles’ phone was a goldmine for prosecutors. It contained hundreds of photos of German’s house and neighborhood. He had even used a password-protected site to look up German’s personal address.
- The Fragility of Public Trust: Telles was an attorney and an elected official. His downfall is a stark reminder of what happens when ego and a sense of entitlement override the duty to serve.
If you’re following this case, the next steps are largely in the hands of the appellate courts. Telles has maintained his innocence and his legal team has indicated they will appeal the conviction. However, given the DNA evidence and the physical items found at his home, legal experts suggest the path to an overturned verdict is incredibly steep.
For the Vegas community, the focus has shifted toward honoring German’s legacy. His colleagues continue to fight for transparency, recently winning a legal battle to release over 10,000 messages from Telles’ office that the county had tried to keep private.
The story of Robert Telles in Las Vegas serves as a grim chapter in Nevada history, but it also stands as a testament to the fact that even in a city built on secrets, the truth eventually comes out.
To stay informed on the latest developments in this case or similar public integrity investigations, you can monitor the Clark County District Court records or follow the investigative desk at the Las Vegas Review-Journal, which continues to track the aftermath of their colleague's death.