Former Democratic public administrator Robert Telles has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of investigative journalist Jeff German in 2022. Telles was found guilty of stabbing German to death outside his home in Las Vegas. The prosecution stated that the verdict sends a message that attempts to silence or intimidate journalists will not be tolerated.
German, a reporter for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, had written critical articles about Telles’ misconduct and inappropriate behavior in the public administrator’s office. Telles denied the allegations but lost his re-election bid after the articles were published. DNA evidence found underneath German’s fingernails and video footage matching Telles’s car led to his conviction.
The verdict was met with tears and hugs from German’s family members and colleagues. Glenn Cook, the executive editor of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, stated that German was killed for his investigative work that held elected officials accountable.
The conviction of Telles comes at a time when attacks on journalists have been on the rise globally. The Committee to Protect Journalists reported that German was the only journalist murdered in the US in 2022, among 69 media workers killed worldwide. The Committee’s coordinator for the US, Canada, and the Caribbean, Katherine Jacobsen, emphasized the importance of the verdict in sending a message that the killing of journalists will not be tolerated.
Telles, who maintained his innocence throughout the trial, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 20 years. The prosecution described the DNA evidence linking Telles to the murder as “insurmountable.” The case has brought attention to the dangers faced by journalists and the importance of holding those responsible for such acts accountable.
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