Robert Telles, the former Clark County public administrator convicted of murdering journalist Jeff German, is set to find out his sentence at a hearing on Wednesday morning at the Regional Justice Center. According to KTNV, the hearing, slated to commence at 8:30 a.m., revisits Telles' life sentence with the possibility of parole after 20 years, as initially dictated by the jury after a trial that hinged on a disturbing narrative of retaliation.
Convicted in August of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon, Robert Telles faces possible additional years in prison due to enhancements for the victim's age (over 60) and the premeditated nature of the crime, which involved an ambush at Jeff German's home. Under District Judge Michelle Leavitt, Telles could receive between one and eight extra years added to his minimum sentence, as reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
German's investigative reporting into Telles' misconduct, which covered allegations of fostering a toxic work environment and involving in an extramarital affair with a staffer, seemingly provided the motive for the brutal crime. In a turn of forensic fortune, DNA evidence aligned with prosecutors' claims, connecting Telles directly to German's death, as detailed by News3LV.
Despite his serious conviction and the chance of a longer sentence, Telles, who has been in jail for two years, insists he is innocent. His defense argues that he was framed while investigating corruption in the public administrator's office. "He expects Telles to file an appeal after sentencing," Robert Draskovich, Telles' defense attorney, told News3LV, though indicating his detachment from the forthcoming appellate proceedings.
The hearing's outcome could make Telles eligible for parole in 18 to 26 years, depending on Judge Leavitt's decision on sentence enhancements. Prosecutors and Telles' lawyer, Draskovich, will have one last chance to sway the court before the judge issues the sentence.
