Robert Telles sentenced for murdering RJ reporter Jeff German

The brother of Las Vegas Review-Journal investigative reporter Jeff German spoke calmly on Wednesday, before a judge decided how long former Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles will spend in prison until he is eligible for parole for killing the journalist.

“We have a lot of anxiety about the future safety of our family, and the children of our family, if Robert Telles were to be released after just 20 years of incarceration,” Jay German told the judge, as he described how his family has coped with their loss for the past two years.

District Judge Michelle Leavitt sentenced Telles to 28 years to life in prison for killing German in September 2022 — the maximum sentence she could impose. Because Telles has spent two years in jail since his arrest, the earliest he could be released from prison is in 26 years, if he is granted parole.

In August, a jury found Telles guilty of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon against a victim 60 or older, for killing German over articles the journalist wrote about his conduct as an elected official. German had reported on allegations that Telles created a toxic work environment within the county office and carried on an affair with a staffer.

Jurors sentenced Telles to life in prison with the possibility of parole in 20 years for the first-degree murder charge. But Leavitt gave him additional time behind bars for the enhancements for murder with a deadly weapon and murder against a victim 60 or older will affect his sentence.

Telles did not express remorse during Wednesday’s sentencing hearing. He stood in a dark blue Clark County Detention Center uniform, staring at prosecutors as they addressed the judge. He turned towards German’s family when the judge asked if he would like to address the court, and said that he expressed his “deepest condolences” to the family.

“I understand the desire to seek justice and to have somebody accountable for this, but I did not kill Mr. German,” Telles said.

Telles’ attorney, Robert Draskovich, argued for the judge to add a one to 10 year enhancement onto his life sentence, which would have made him eligible for parole in at least 19 years. He argued that Telles had no criminal history, and that the jury gave him the opportunity to be released from prison, instead of sentencing him to life without the possibility of parole.

“I’m going to urge the court to allow the parole board a bit more discretion,” Draskovich told the judge.

Draskovich has also filed a motion to withdraw as Telles’ attorney now that the sentencing is over. He has said that Telles plans to appeal the case.

Following the hearing, Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said he wasn’t surprised that Telles did not express remorse. During trial, Telles claimed he was framed for German’s murder and alleged there was a vast conspiracy, involving the police and the district attorney’s office, to pin the crime on him.

Wolfson said he believes justice has been served in the case.

“We got what we wanted,” Wolfson said. “We got a life sentence, we got max on the enhancement, and he’s going to spend a long, long time in prison.”

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Contact Katelyn Newberg at knewberg@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0240.