Former politician sentenced to life in prison for murder of Las Vegas journalist

LAS VEGAS (KVVU/Gray News) – A former politician convicted of killing a Las Vegas journalist was sentenced Wednesday.

Robert Telles has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Las Vegas journalist Jeff German.

A jury found former Clark County official Robert Telles guilty in August of the murder of longtime Las Vegas Review-Journal journalist Jeff German.

Telles was found guilty of stabbing the investigative journalist to death outside his home in September 2022.

After Telles’ conviction, the jury recommended that he serve a life sentence, with the possibility of parole after twenty years.

He was formally sentenced on Wednesday.

Judge Michelle Leavitt also added an 8- to 20-year sentence to Telles’ life sentence for use of a deadly weapon. He is now eligible for parole after 28 years and was given credit for having already served two years.

Telles will also have to pay $23,347.71 in restitution to German’s family.

Members of the prosecution, the German family and District Attorney Steve Wolfson were all present in the courtroom.

Robert Draskovich, Telles’ attorney, withdrew from the case after the conviction. The public defender’s office will take over the case and handle any appeal attempts.

“The family has my deepest condolences,” Telles said during the hearing. “Sir. German had a big impact on the community… He made a difference.”

German’s brother, Jay German, also spoke at the hearing. He said that two years after his death, the family is “still in shock” and that it has “taken a huge toll on our family.”

He also said it will take a long time for them to recover.

“We’ve celebrated a few birthdays since he passed away,” he said. “It’s fun to get together as a family and visit Jeff, but it’s just not the same – and it never will be.”

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