What You Need to Know Before Robert Telles’ Trial for the Murder of Jeff German

LAS VEGAS (KTNV — Former Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles is scheduled to appear at his murder trial starting Monday.

Telles is charged with the murder of Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German in September 2022.

Since then, there have been many twists and turns in the courtroom. But the drama in Telles’ office may have provoked a deadly chain of events.

Here’s what you need to know before the Robert Telles murder trial:

What You Need to Know Before Robert Telles’ Murder Trial

More than two years ago, Clark County Public Administration employees privately notified German about alleged workplace unrest under Telles’ leadership.

This has been the subject of a series of articles published by German, starting with a May 2022 piece titled “District office in chaos over secret video recording and accusations of intimidation, hostility.”

In it, German writes:

“A half-dozen current and former employees interviewed by the Review-Journal say the hostile work environment was fueled by the office’s elected administrator, Robert Telles.”

In June 2022, Telles lost the election for public administrator.

Months later, in September 2022, German was found dead in his home with stab wounds.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department released surveillance video of what they say is the suspect, who is seen wearing a large straw hat and a reflective orange shirt.

A few days later, Metro located Telles and took him in for questioning. Police also searched his home.

Investigators found pieces of a cut-up sun hat in his garage.

However, police say the most compelling evidence is DNA found under German’s fingernails, which matched the sample taken from Telles.

Police collected enough evidence to arrest Telles on suspicion of German’s murder.

From then until today, Channel 13 has been present at Telles’ court hearings. Telles has hired and fired three lawyers, and even represented himself for a time.

“I am not playing with you,” Judge Michelle Leavitt said during a February 2023 hearing. “This is very, very serious.”

Telles tried to remove Judge Leavitt from the case and told Channel 13 in a February 2023 jailhouse interview that she “violated certain code of conduct rules.”

Supreme Court Chief Justice Jerry Weise denied Telles’ motion to recuse the judge.

In February 2024, Telles hired renowned criminal defense attorney Robert Draskovich to represent him.

Draskovich said Telles had been under investigation for subway corruption a month before German’s murder and that his client had been under surveillance by police.

“We want to find out if he did any reconnaissance beforehand,” Draskovich said in a February 2024 interview.

Since hiring Draskovich, Telles has insisted the trial continues.

But the case was stalled amid conflicts over how to search German’s devices. The case even went all the way to the Nevada Supreme Court, with Review-Journal lawyers arguing for the First Amendment.

The Review-Journal won the case and reviewed the devices to prevent German’s sources from being leaked.

Employees at the county public administrator’s office said this was important to German.

“We know Jeff would protect his sources,” Aleisha Goodwin said.

RJ said it would provide prosecutors and Telles’ team with information about German’s devices by Monday morning, just hours before jury selection began in Telles’ trial.