Sentencing of Former County Official for the Murder of Las Vegas Journalist
A district judge has extended the prison sentence of a former county official who was convicted of murdering a prominent Las Vegas journalist. On Wednesday, Judge Michelle Leavitt ruled that Robert Telles will be required to spend a minimum of 28 years behind bars before he is eligible for parole.
The victim, Jeff German, was a respected journalist whose career spanned four decades. He was known for his fearless reporting, taking on powerful figures including mob bosses and casino executives. However, it was a series of investigative articles that exposed corruption within a little-known county office, led by Telles, that ultimately became the catalyst for his tragic murder in September 2022, as argued by prosecutors during the trial.
A Clark County jury found Telles guilty of first-degree murder in August, and he was initially sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 20 years. However, Judge Leavitt exercised her discretion under Nevada law to impose an additional eight years to that minimum sentence, citing that the murder involved a deadly weapon and targeted a victim who was 60 years of age or older.
Telles’ attorney has announced plans to appeal the ruling. Itās worth noting that Telles has already spent nearly two years in custody awaiting trial and sentencing.
The brutal killing of Jeff German has sparked significant concerns regarding press freedom, particularly highlighting the dangers faced by journalists who cover their local communities. The impact of his death has also been devastating for his family. In an emotional statement to Judge Leavitt, his brother, Jay German, expressed the profound loss felt by their family.
- āWeāve had a couple of his birthdays since heās passed,ā Jay German said.
- āItās nice to get together as a family and kind of visit with Jeff, but itās not the same, and it never will be.ā