Democrat charged in savage killing of journalist claims he's being framed despite damning evidence to the contrary



Former Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles, 47, addressed the jury this week for the first time in the trial over his alleged 2022 murder of Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German. Telles complained Wednesday about his imprisonment in the lead-up to the trial and stated, "I want to say, unequivocally, I am innocent, I didn't kill Mr. German."

On Thursday, the disgraced Democrat suggested he'd been framed for killing the very reporter whose investigative writing was tanking his political career, the Review-Journal reported.

German wrote about inappropriate relations, hostilities, and 'turmoil' inside Telles' county office, citing 'allegations of emotional stress, bullying, and favoritism leading to secret videotaping of the boss and a co-worker outside the office.'

"Somebody framed me for this, and I believe it's Compass Realty," he said.

According to Telles, homes belonging to the recently deceased in Clark County were being flipped for profit, and the families of the deceased were being cut out of the proceeds. The Democrat suggested he was "fighting" Compass Realty and Management over the sales.

The company told the Review-Journal in a statement, "Mr. Telles is a desperate man who has been charged with violently murdering a beloved local journalist. It appears he will do and say anything to escape answering for this charge."

It may be an uphill battle for Telles in court, as his defense likely will need to provide the jury with convincing explanations for why:

  • As reported by the Associated Press, Telles' DNA apparently was found beneath the victim's fingernails;
  • Police found hundreds of photos of the victim's home — along with German's identity records — on Telles' computer and cellphone, some of which were collected only weeks ahead of the slaying;
  • In their search of Telles' house, police found bloody scissors, a cut-up straw hat resembling one the suspect wore, and a pair of cut-up tennis shoes which tested positive for blood;
  • An SUV matching the description of one registered to Telles' wife was seen driving in German's neighborhood around the time of slaying;
  • His phone sent no signals on the day of the killing and why, as KTNV-TV noted, the previous month there was no location data.

What's the background?

German, 69, was stabbed to death outside his home on Sept. 2., 2022. His body, which had seven stab wounds, was discovered the following day.

Police subsequently released video and images of the suspect carrying a bag and wearing a reflective orange shirt and a broad-brimmed hat as well as images of the suspect's alleged vehicle, a maroon GMC Yukon Denali.

Former LVMPD Sheriff Joe Lombardo indicated someone had been seen driving the vehicle "suspiciously" around the neighborhood and confirmed the suspect had used it to leave the area. The vehicle depicted was a maroon GMC Yukon Denali.

Assistant Sheriff Dori Koren later noted that the vehicle was registered to Telles' wife.

On Sept. 7, police executed a search warrant at the Telles' home and towed two vehicles, one of which was the Denali.

After police completed their search, Telles returned home dressed in what was appeared to be a white hazmat suit. When police attempted to speak to him, Telles refused to open the door, prompting the dispatch of a LVPD SWAT team.

The tactical team ultimately made the arrest and carted Telles away on a stretcher following an apparent suicide attempt.

Las Vegas Review-Journal executive editor Glenn Cook said "we are relieved Telles is in custody and outraged that a colleague appears to have been killed for reporting on an elected official."

Following his arrest, Telles was stripped of his administrator position by court order. In that position, Telles handled the funds of people who died without a will, some of which he is alleged to have mishandled or misappropriated.

Telles — a gun control advocate and an avid supporter of far-left U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) — is said to have lost his primary election in June 2022 to fellow Democrat Rita Reid partly because of German's investigative reporting. Reid previously served as the top supervisor under Telles.

German wrote about inappropriate relations, hostilities, and "turmoil" inside Telles' county office, citing "allegations of emotional stress, bullying, and favoritism leading to secret videotaping of the boss and a co-worker outside the office."

Telles — who was arrested for domestic violence and resisting arrest on March 1, 2020 — blasted German on social media, writing, "You'd think he'd have better things to do."

According to CNN, Telles also responded to German's articles on his campaign site as well as in a letter.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Democrat indicted in savage killing of Las Vegas journalist, ousted from office. Victim 'was willing to speak truth to power and it cost him his life.'



A Democrat was indicted for murder Thursday in the grisly slaying last month of a Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter and ousted from office.

What are the details?

Robert Telles, 45, allegedly ambushed and killed Jeff German "willfully, unlawfully, with malice aforethought" on Sept. 2 after German penned a series of investigative articles detailing the Democrat's alleged misconduct and unethical behavior as Clark County Public Administrator in Nevada.

Telles, removed from office by court order earlier this month, is said to have lost his primary election in June to fellow Democrat Rita Reid partly as a result of the victim's investigative reporting.

German had written about hostilities, inappropriate relations, and "turmoil" inside Telles' county office.

Rita Reid told the Daily Beast that German "was willing to speak truth to power and it cost him his life."

Telles responded to German on Twitter, writing via his now-deleted account: "Typical bully. Can't take a pound of critism [sic] after slinging 100 pounds of BS. Up to article #4 now. You'd think he'd have better things to do."

Prosecutors indicated that the video and DNA evidence they say implicates Telles in German's murder is overwhelming, suggesting it was the former politician who couldn't take criticism.

Telles, a gun-control advocate who had once written to U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) saying, "There are folks on the other side that really want us at each other's throats," allegedly went to German's home and stabbed him multiple times.

If convicted, Telles may face the death penalty. Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson has yet to announce whether or not he will be seeking that sentence.

Denied bail once again on Tuesday, Telles remains in custody at the Clark County Detention Center.

Silencing the press

A murder investigation began Sept. 3 after German's body was found outside his home, six miles away from Telles' residence. The Clark County coroner ruled German's death a homicide resulting from "multiple sharp force injuries."

Three days later, the Las Vegas Metro Police Department released images of a possible suspect carrying a bag and wearing a reflective orange shirt and a broad-brimmed straw hat. The LVMPD also revealed images of a maroon GMC Yukon Denali, which had been near the crime scene around the time of the murder.

LVMPD Sheriff Joe Lombardo indicated someone had been seen driving the vehicle "suspiciously" around the neighborhood and confirmed the suspect had used it to leave the area. The vehicle depicted was a maroon GMC Yukon Denali.

\u201cAn SUV parked in Robert Telles' driveway looks similar to the one Las Vegas Metro police asked to help identify Wednesday. I cannot confirm if it is in fact the same car. https://t.co/EXvGYKSfYB\u201d
— David Charns (@David Charns) 1662564922

Cpt. Dori Koren later noted that the vehicle was registered to Telles' wife.

Man Found Deceased Outside of Home - Update-Photo of Suspect Vehicleyoutu.be

The LVMP executed a search warrant on Sept. 7 at Telles' home and towed two vehicles, one of which was the GMC observed near the crime scene.

Telles arrived home at 2:20 p.m., hours after police had completed their search of his house.

Ignoring reporters' questions, he shut himself inside his garage wearing "a white hazmat suit." When a police officer knocked on the front door, Telles refused to answer.

\u201cRob Tellus has returned to his home after sources tell @8NewsNow he was talking to investigators in connection to the Jeff German case.\u201d
— Christian C\u00e1zares (@Christian C\u00e1zares) 1662585785

When Telles wouldn't open the door to police, a Las Vegas Police Department SWAT team was dispatched, which then made the arrest. Telles was taken out of his house on a stretcher.

\u201cBREAKING: Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles is taken out of his house on a stretcher and loaded into an ambulance. Telles has been arrested in the slaying of @reviewjournal investigative reporter Jeff German. Story: https://t.co/vAhxjgdlzU\u201d
— Brett Clarkson (@Brett Clarkson) 1662602133

Misappropriated funds allegation

After his arrest, Telles was stripped of his administrator position by court order. In that position he had handled the funds of people who died without a will, some of which he is alleged to have mishandled or misappropriated, hence the Nevada Supreme Court's recent suspension of his law license.

It's not just clients whose money Telles may have have mishandled.

According to the Review-Journal, taxpayers are on the hook for Telles' legal fees despite the fact that he owns six properties in Nevada and Arkansas with at least $200,000 in equity, along with a Las Vegas home valued around $600,000.

While the accused murderer claimed in court Sept. 20 that he was indigent and was assigned two Clark County public defenders, the AP noted that Telles and his wife were making $20,500 per month prior to his arrest.

'Typical bully'

Telles' arrest in September wasn't his first.

He also was arrested for domestic violence and resisting arrest March 1, 2020. His wife, Mae Ismael, called police asking for help in light of her husband "going crazy."

Telles allegedly grabbed his wife by the neck and struck her as they drunkenly made their way home from Bellagio casino.

Bodycam footage of the arrest shows the former office holder in an apparent drunken state. He can be heard telling police, "You guys just want to take me down because I'm a public official."

While the domestic battery charge was later dismissed, Telles received a suspended 90-day sentence on the resisting arrest charge.

New 911 calls, body camera video show Rob Telles' arrest for domestic violenceyoutu.be

Reporter tries to blame Trump for Las Vegas Democrat allegedly stabbing journalist to death



A reporter tried to compel a Las Vegas sheriff to condemn former President Donald Trump after police arrested a local Democrat politician for the murder of an investigative journalist.

On Thursday, the sheriff of the Las Vegas Metro Police Department, Joe Lombardo, took to the podium to address questions from the media regarding a recent high-profile arrest. The day before, Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles was arrested for the gruesome murder of Jeff German, a reporter for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, a story that had naturally drawn the attention of media throughout the country.

But one reporter, whose name has not been given, instead queried Lombardo about Trump, likely attempting to reorient the conversation from a discussion about the violent actions of one person into a larger statement about the former president.

"Now is probably not the appropriate time to talk politics," the unnamed reporter began. To which Lombardo replied, "So why are we talking politics then?"

The reporter disregarded Lombardo's question and proceeded to make the case political, asking, "Do you condemn former President Trump’s normalization of violence against journalists?"

\u201cDemocrat elected official: Allegedly stabs journalist to death\n\nMedia to Sheriff: So are you going to condemn Trump?\n\n\ud83e\udd21\ud83c\udf0e\u201d
— Jason Howerton (@Jason Howerton) 1662734735

"No, I think this [is] probably inappropriate to speculate on that or opine on that," Lombardo responded.

He also added that the crime "is troublesome because it is a journalist. When people take it upon themselves to create harm associated with that profession, I think it’s very important that we put all eyes on and address the case appropriately."

It is unclear why the reporter believed that a Democratic politician would exact violence against a reporter because of comments Trump made about the media while in office. It is also unclear in what way the former president normalized "violence against journalists."

German had recently published an exposé about Telles, alleging that Telles created a hostile work environment and had engaged in an inappropriate relationship with one staffer. Over the summer, Telles lost a bid for reelection to fellow Democrat Rita Reid, and many have suspected that German's recent articles helped sink Telles' campaign.

"The published articles regarding a public figure, the public administrator’s office, ruined his political career, likely his marriage, and this was him lashing out at the cause," said Clark County chief deputy DA Richard Scow.

German was viciously stabbed seven times, according to Scow.

According to police, the evidence against Telles, an ardent gun control advocate, is damning. Police say that they have tied the straw hat and shoes seen in surveillance footage to Telles and have found Telles' DNA underneath German's fingernails. Police say they also have other DNA evidence linking Telles to the murder, though they have not publicly discussed the details of that DNA evidence.

German began working for the Review-Journal in 2010. Prior to that, he spent 20 years working for the Las Vegas Sun.