Democratic official found guilty of stabbing Nevada journalist to death
A Nevada jury made headlines on Wednesday when it convicted a Democratic elected official of first-degree murder.
According to the Daily Caller, 47-year-old former Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles was found guilty of killing journalist Jeff German.
Official blamed journalist for election loss
The reporter's murder came in September of 2022 months after he had written a series of articles about Caller for the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
German's articles cited allegations that the Clark County public administrator had engaged in an "inappropriate relationship" with a staff member while also fostering a "hostile work environment."
The jury unanimously found Telles guilty of 1st degree murder with use of a deadly weapon, victim 60 or older.
The jury found it was willful, deliberate and premeditated.
Telles shook his head showing no remorse.#TellesTrial @KTNV pic.twitter.com/mOmNUfH7zW— Jaewon Jung (@jaewonnews) August 28, 2024
Telles' reelection campaign failed in June, something prosecutors say he blamed on negative press coverage by German.
Police found Telles' DNA at crime scene, bloody shoes at his house
Telles was arrested shortly after German was stabbed to death, with police uncovering video footage that showed the official walking towards the reporter's Las Vegas house on the day of his killing.
"[Telles] approached Mr. German's home and went to the side of the house shortly after German came outside of the garage door and then went to the side of the house and ultimately an altercation took place between the suspect and the victim," the Daily Caller quoted Homicide Captain Dori Koren as telling reporters.
What's more, Telles' DNA was found at the crime scene while a pair of bloody shoes were discovered during a search of his home.
Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson welcomed Telles' conviction, saying it "should send a message and that message is to silence or intimidate a journalist will not be tolerated."
Newspaper says verdict "delivered a measure of justice"
The district attorney explained that Telles will spend decades behind bars as he faces one of several sentencing options.
They consist of life without possible parole, life with possible parole after serving at least 20 years or a 50-year sentence with parole eligibility after serving 20 years.
Meanwhile, the Review-Journal released a statement saying that Wednesday's verdict "delivered a measure of justice for Jeff German."
It added, "Jeff was killed for doing the kind of work in which he took great pride: His reporting held an elected official accountable for bad behavior and empowered voters to choose someone else for the job."