Nevada politician Robert Telles sentenced to life in prison for the murder of journalist Jeff German

Robert Telles, the former Nevada politician convicted of the murder of journalist Jeff German in September 2022, was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 28 years.

The former Clark County public administrator was found guilty in August of fatally stabbing German to death after the Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter reported on alleged corruption in his office that ended his political career and his marriage. German’s story describes an allegedly hostile work environment in Telles’ office — including harassment, retaliation and an “inappropriate relationship” between Telles and a staffer — all of which Telles denied.

After his conviction in August, the jury sentenced Telles to 20 years in prison. Judge Michelle Leavitt sentenced him Wednesday to an additional eight to 20 years for glorifying the murder of a person over 60 and using a deadly weapon. Telles has already served two years behind bars and will be eligible for parole in 26 years.

Days after German was found dead outside his Las Vegas home in September 2022, Telles was taken into custody. Police said DNA evidence found in Telles’ home linked him to the crime scene, and that a straw hat and sneakers – which the suspect was seen wearing in surveillance footage – were found in pieces in his home. His DNA was also found on the German’s hands and fingernails, police said.

Before the judge’s ruling on Wednesday, Telles addressed the court, expressing his “deepest condolences” to German’s family but maintaining his innocence.

“I understand the desire to seek justice and hold someone accountable for this, but I did not kill Mr. German,” Telles said.

German’s brother, Jay German, also spoke Wednesday, remembering him as a beloved brother, uncle and friend to many who miss him.

“He was our leader and we will never see him again,” he said.

MORE: Nevada politician Robert Telles found guilty of murdering journalist Jeff German, sentenced to life in prison

Jay German pushed for a stiffer sentence for Telles, saying the family would be concerned for their safety if Telles was released.

“We are deeply concerned for the future safety of our family and our family’s children if Robert Telles were released after just 20 years in prison,” he said.

At a news conference after the hearing, Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said Telles had shown no signs of remorse or acceptance of his guilt.

“We got what we wanted: a life sentence and maximum enhancement,” Wolfson said.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, German was the only journalist killed in the United States in 2022, with a total of at least 67 journalists killed around the world that year.

Earlier, Las Vegas Sheriff Joseph Lombardo called the case against Telles “unusual” and said that “the murder of a journalist is particularly difficult.”

“It’s difficult because he’s a journalist. And we expect journalism to be open, transparent and the watchdog for the government,” Lombardo said. “And when people take it upon themselves to cause harm related to that profession, I think it’s really important that we put all eyes on it and address the matter appropriately, as we did in this case.”

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In a statement published by the Las Vegas Review-Journal after Telles’ conviction in August, the paper’s editor-in-chief Glenn Cook praised the guilty verdict “as a benchmark for justice” for not just German, but “killed journalists around the world.”

“Jeff was killed for doing the kind of work he was very proud of: his reporting held an elected official accountable for bad behavior and gave voters the opportunity to choose someone else for the job,” Cook wrote. “Robert Telles could have joined the long line of publicly shamed Nevada politicians who have moved on with their lives, out of the spotlight or back in.” Instead, he committed a premeditated revenge killing with terrifying brutality.”

“Let’s also not forget that this community has lost much more than just a trusted journalist,” Cook added. “Jeff was a good man who left behind a family who loved him and friends who cherished him. His murder remains a shame. He is missed.”

Nevada politician Robert Telles, sentenced to life in prison for murdering journalist Jeff German, originally appeared on abcnews.go.com