Prosecutors move to postpone trial in reporter’s killing

Prosecutors told a judge on Wednesday that they do not want to move forward with a trial this month for Robert Telles, who is accused of killing Las Vegas Review-Journal investigative reporter Jeff German.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Pamela Weckerly said prosecutors still need to review information on German’s personal electronic devices, which were seized by police after he was killed and are being reviewed by Review-Journal employees for confidential information.

“We’ll be happy to go to trial whenever the Review-Journal is done with their analysis, and if the state or defense makes any challenges to what they have indicated they’re claiming privilege over,” Weckerly said. “But at this point, we’re not waiving our access to those devices for trial.”

District Judge Michelle Leavitt told prosecutors to file a written motion, and scheduled another hearing for Tuesday for prosecutors to argue for the trial to be postponed.

In court last week, and in a recent interview with the Review-Journal, Telles, the ousted Clark County public administrator, insisted that he wanted his trial to start March 18 without waiting to review the information on the devices. Telles’ defense attorney, Robert Draskovich, has said that Telles is acting against his wishes.

Draskovich told the judge on Wednesday that Telles still wishes to go forward with the trial, even after he advised Telles of the “potential consequences.” He said that he does not believe there are any “competency issues” with Telles’ decision.

“We intend on going forward in accordance with what he wants to do,” Draskovich said. “This is his trial.”

Telles is accused of fatally stabbing German outside the reporter’s home in September 2022 because he was angry over articles the reporter had written about Telles’ conduct as an elected official. He has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge and has claimed he was both the victim of police misconduct and framed for German’s killing.

Prosecutors have pointed to “overwhelming evidence” against Telles, including his DNA that police said was found underneath German’s fingernails.

Telles has claimed that he is ready to go to trial and that a jury will acquit him. He said he does not believe any evidence on German’s devices will help his case, though he has not seen any of the information himself.

Review-Journal employees are reviewing German’s devices to identify potential confidential information about his sources, which could take up to six months.

Following a lengthy legal fight, the Nevada Supreme Court ruled in October that the state’s shield law, which protects journalists from forcibly revealing sources, continues to apply to German’s devices after his death.

The Review-Journal’s attorneys told the judge on Wednesday that they are almost finished reviewing German’s phone for any potentially confidential information. Attorney Joel Tasca said that about 5,000 items from German’s phone are “potentially privileged,” which is a “small percentage” of the phone’s overall contents.

Once the Review-Journal’s attorneys determine what information they believe is confidential, both prosecutors and Telles’ defense will have the chance to oppose the findings.

Weckerly argued that while Telles was still acting as his own attorney, he agreed to the process that the Review-Journal is using to search the devices.

Telles also waived his right to a speedy trial in October 2022, court records show.

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