Jailed ex-politician indicted in stabbing death of Las Vegas journalist

Robert Telles might face the demise penalty for his homicide of Jeff German.
AP

A former Las Vegas-area politician has been indicted on a homicide cost — which carries the opportunity of the demise penalty — within the killing of a veteran investigative journalist who wrote articles essential of him and his managerial conduct.

Robert “Rob” Telles, 45, was indicted Thursday and scheduled for arraignment subsequent Wednesday in Clark County District Court docket, in accordance with courtroom information.

One among Telles’ court-appointed attorneys, Edward Kane, declined to remark concerning the indictment, a transfer by prosecutors meaning Telles is not going to face a preliminary listening to of proof that had been scheduled subsequent week.

Telles, 45, a Democrat, misplaced his get together main in June and has been stripped by courtroom order of his place as Clark County Administrator, heading the workplace that handles property of people that die with out a will or household contacts.

The state Supreme Court docket has suspended Telles’ regulation license pending a State Bar of Nevada investigation of allegations that he misappropriated consumer funds.

Jeff German was reporting on Telles and the official’s workplace earlier than his demise.

AP

He was arrested Sept. 7, a number of days after the Sept. 2 stabbing demise of Las Vegas Overview-Journal reporter Jeff German outdoors German’s house. Telles is being held with out bail on the Clark County jail.

Clark County District Lawyer Steve Wolfson has stated he’ll decide in coming weeks whether or not Telles will face the demise penalty.

Prosecutors have characterised the proof in opposition to Telles as overwhelming, together with DNA believed to be from Telles discovered beneath German’s fingernails; video exhibiting a person believed to be Telles strolling close to German’s house; and a automobile believed to be Telles’ within the space.

Robert Telles was stripped by courtroom order of his place as Clark County Administrator,

AP

German, 69, was extensively revered for his tenacity, and his colleagues stated he was engaged on follow-up reviews about Telles and the general public administrator’s workplace when he was killed.

A separate case is pending earlier than the state Supreme Court docket over considerations about revealing German’s confidential sources and notes.

A choose has issued an order stopping police from accessing the information, which police, prosecutors and Telles’ protection attorneys say they need to evaluation for extra proof — together with the likelihood that somebody different then Telles had a motive to kill German.

The Overview-Journal, with backing from dozens of media organizations, argues that the federal government shouldn't be capable of entry German’s cellphone and digital gadgets.

The newspaper cites Nevada’s so-called “information defend regulation,” which is among the many strictest within the nation, together with the federal Privateness Safety Act and First Modification safeguards.

The Overview-Journal on Friday reported that Telles was assigned two deputy Clark County public defenders at public expense regardless of reporting to the courtroom final month that he and his spouse had been making $20,500 monthly earlier than his arrest and that he owns 5 rental homes in Scorching Springs, Arkansas.

Property information present the couple additionally owns a Las Vegas house with a taxable worth of greater than $320,000.