Late evidence prompts possible delay in trial for murdered Vegas reporter

LAS VEGAS (CN) — Though former Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles' trial for the murder of a Las Vegas journalist is scheduled to begin Monday, a delay in submitting evidence from the journalist's employer may complicate those plans.

Telles is charged in the first-degree murder of Las Vegas Review-Journal investigative reporter Jeff German in September 2022. The Las Vegas Review-Journal has been asked to provide the court with records related to the case from German's laptop and phone. However, the newspaper has consistently missed its own self-imposed deadlines to submit the evidence.

Now, the Review-Journal claims it will have the evidence submitted on Monday morning. Jury selection for the trial is set for that same afternoon. It's a situation that Telles' attorney, Robert Draskovich, acknowledges as a setback.

"It's a great concern," Draskovich said after Wednesday's pre-trial hearing. "Our concern from the get-go, since my involvement, has been for me to have all materials contained within Mr. German's devices."

The Review-Journal said it has identified approximately 5,000 items that might contain privileged data, complicating preparations for the trial. 

Although the content of German's devices might affect Telles' defense strategy, Draskovich says that his client plans to move forward with the trial regardless.

"[Telles] has informed the court on multiple occasions, and the press for that matter, that regardless of whether or not the Review-Journal completes their review of the devices, he wanted to move forward with the trial," he said.

Telles has pleaded not guilty and claims he was framed for German's murder. Draskovich says he plans to testify in his own defense at the trial.

"I know that he has said on a number of occasions that he has held with the press that he anticipates telling his story," said Draskovich. "I don't anticipate his position changing."

Evidentiary delays have marred the case's progression — in March, trial was postponed due to new evidence related to a separate bribery investigation.

Investigators believe Telles exploited his official position through a house-flipping scheme for personal gain. This bribery case, which could potentially influence the murder trial's direction, prompted both sides to review the evidence.

A death threat recording, unrelated to Telles and directed at German prior to his murder, added a new layer to the proceedings in March and threw a wrench in the prosecution's narrative of premeditation.

The case is made even more complex due to efforts by the Review-Journal to shield German's sources and the content of his electronic devices.

The defense's previous legal maneuvers — particularly those initiated by Telles before Draskovich took over — had stalled the investigative process by preventing a timely search of the devices. 

The Nevada Supreme Court even weighed in in July 2023, affirming the state's shield law applies even after death.

German, 69, known for his investigative journalism, was found murdered in in the front yard of his home in northwest Las Vegas in September 2022. 

German wrote multiple stories about the hostile work environment inside the Clark County Public Administrator’s office which Telles led. Three months before German was found dead outside his home, Telles publicly blamed the Review-Journal for turning voters against him, claiming that the newspaper made "false claims" about his actions.

Investigators found Telles' DNA at the crime scene. A red SUV towed from Telles' driveway matched a photo of one police believed was connected to the crime. When police came to arrest him, he was hospitalized for self-inflicted wounds.

"Any time you have a case where you have a substantial amount of DNA evidence, that does present a problem, and it does a problem to the defense in this case" Draskovich said. "But again, that's what trials are for."

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