Judge adds 8 years to Robert Telles’ prison sentence for Jeff German’s murder

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Robert Telles, the former Clark County public administrator found guilty of killing Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German, will have to serve another eight years in prison before he is eligible for parole.

Jaewon Jung returned to the courtroom on Wednesday morning for the sentencing hearing in the case we have been following since September 2022.

Judge Michelle Leavitt spoke at that hearing eight years added to Telles’ original sentence life in prison, with the possibility of parole after twenty years.

You can watch the full hearing here:

Watch: The judge adds 8 years to Robert Telles’ sentence for the murder of a local reporter

In August, Telles was found guilty of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon.

The jury sentenced him to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 20 years for stabbing German following a series of articles exposing misconduct during Telles’ tenure.

If he had already been convicted, why was he back in court?

The charge against Telles included enhancements – one for German being over 60, one for use of a deadly weapon and another for “lurking.” (Evidence in the case suggested that Telles planned the attack on German and lured the journalist outside before stabbing him to death.)

Due to these circumstances, Judge Leavitt decided to extend Telles’ minimum time behind bars. She could add one to eight years to his minimum sentence and chose eight years.

Prosecutors and Telles’ attorney, Robert Draskovich, had one last chance to address the court before Leavitt announced her decision. German brother Jay also spoke about the impact of the case on his family.

“We have lost a brother, an uncle, a friend and a leader,” Jay German said.

Telles has maintained his innocence since he was arrested and, when testifying at his trial, claimed that German’s murder was the result of a conspiracy. When he addressed the court on Wednesday, he again claimed that the state had the wrong man.

“I understand the desire to seek justice and have someone accountable for this, but I did not kill Mr. German, and unfortunately the people who need to be brought to justice… the chances of that happening now are slim,” Telles said .

Because the former public administrator has already spent two years in prison, he could be eligible for parole in 26 years. However, if parole is denied, he still faces a maximum prison sentence of life in prison. He was also ordered to pay $23,347.71 in restitution to the German family.

Watch: Hear what defense attorney Robert Draskovich and Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson had to say about Telles’ extended sentence.

Hear from the defense and prosecutor after the judge added time to Robert Telles’ sentence