Robert Telles asks for hearing to clarify jury statements after guilty verdict

The man found guilty of murdering Las Vegas Review-Journal investigative reporter Jeff German is now asking the court to hold a hearing to clarify statements jurors made after the trial.

At a trial last month, a jury found former Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles guilty of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon against a victim 60 or older.

Telles’ attorney, Robert Draskovich, filed a motion on Thursday requesting an evidentiary hearing to “clarify and supplement the record” after several jurors spoke to news media following the trial.

Draskovich wrote that he was concerned that jurors had outside knowledge of the case, and that there may have been an instance of outside communication between jurors and the judge.

“This is not an attempt to point fingers at former jurors,” Draskovich wrote in the motion. “It was clear that throughout the course of the trial the members of the jury were conscientious, attentive and diligent.”

The motion indicated that Telles wants an evidentiary hearing so that “the record can be clarified, supplemented, and protected.”

Telles fatally stabbed German in September 2022 over articles the journalist had written about his conduct as an elected official, including allegations that he created a hostile work environment and had an inappropriate relationship with a staffer.

The jury sentenced Telles, now 47, to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 20 years. A sentencing hearing in front of District Judge Michele Leavitt is scheduled for Oct. 16, when she is set to sentence Telles for the enhancements on the murder charge.

Draskovich told the Review-Journal on Friday that he wants the judge to call an evidentiary hearing before Telles’ sentencing in order to question the jury members. The information established in an evidentiary hearing would determine if he asks for a new trial for Telles.

“It’s all fact-dependant,” Draskovich said.

Jurors spent nearly 12 hours over the course of three days deliberating before reaching a verdict. Three members of the jury spoke to the Review-Journal after the trial, describing the deliberations.

All three of those jurors recalled sending a note to the judge, asking for direction. Two of the jurors remembered the judge responding with a note of her own, telling them to continue deliberations. Another juror said a marshal told the jury he would show the note to the judge, and the marshal told the jury to continue deliberations.

Draskovich noted in the motion that a defendant has a right to be present when the judge communicates to the jury, and has a right to give input on the court’s response.

Another juror also referenced Telles’ claim that he went for a walk the day German was killed, during a “100-degree day,” Draskovich wrote in the motion. The motion states that because that day’s high temperature was not included in evidence, the jury may have “received this information from a third party or consulted the Internet.”

The motion also noted that a juror said in an interview that it was “haunting” to look out the window in the jury deliberation room and see the Review-Journal building.

Telles took the witness stand and testified during the trial, claiming he was framed for German’s killing. One of the jurors told the Review-Journal that testifying on his own behalf was “the worst thing he could have done.”

Draskovich has previously said Telles intends to appeal the case.

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