Who was Robert Telles' victim journalist Jeff German? Who he killed for writing a series of negative stories

Jeff German was a veteran journalist who was killed by former Las Vegas politician Robert Telles after publishing a series of negative stories about him. 

German, 69, was found dead in September 2022 after writing unflattering articles about the former Clark County Public Administrator, including 'bullying' and 'hostility' in the workplace, and an alleged affair between him and a staffer. 

After a blockbuster trial, Telles, 47, was found guilty of first-degree murder following the fatal stabbing death of the late Las Vegas Review-Journal investigative reporter. 

Telles, 47, looked somber in court on Wednesday as he donned a gray suit, white shirt and yellow tie in front of a jury of seven women and five men who decided his fate. 

He later returned to custody in jail, where he's been held since his arrest days after German's body was discovered. 

Who was journalist Jeff German?

German was born in 19530 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to his Jewish parents Max and June German. 

Other than his decades-long career in journalism, German - a bachelor that lived alone - was also dedicated to his family and the Las Vegas community.

German had a brother, Jay German, and two sisters, Jill Zwerg and Julie Smith. All three of them testified on the witness stand during the trial. 

He was also a 'fantastic uncle,' his sisters told KTNV, adding that he never missed a birthday. 

German earned a master's degree from Marquette University and soon started his journalism career as an intern at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

He later became a columnist and investigative reporter at the Las Vegas Sun and stayed there for more than 20 years covering crime, courts and politics. 

Before being laid off by the Las Vegas Sun in 2009, German wrote a true crime novel 'Murder in Sin City,' and wrote and hosted a podcast series called 'Mobbed Up: The Fight for Las Vegas.'  

In 2010, he joined the Las Vegas Review-Journal where he was first to report that the gunman of the Las Vegas mass shooting had initially shot at two jet fuel tanks before turning to the music festival in 2017. 

Who is Robert Telles?  

Robert Telles is a father-of-three who is married to Mary Ann Ismeal. 

Ismeal has been seen in court supporting Telles since his arrest two years ago. She also testified during the trial and revealed the chilling three-word text she sent to her husband on September 2 - the day before German was found dead. 

Prior to being arrested for German's death, Telles was a Democratic Clark County Public Administrator. 

According to a police report obtained by KTNV, Telles and Ismeal were involved in a domestic violence incident after going out to the Bellagio in 2020. 

During the encounter, Telles', who had a bit too much to drink, allegedly grabbed his wife's neck and told her 'Kill me!' after refusing to go to bed that night. 

In October 2022, the Review-Journal reported that Telles owned six properties between Nevada and Arkansas. 

How did Robert Telles murder him? 

According to prosecutors, Telles walked into German's side yard at 11:18am on September 3 and waited five minutes before the reporter emerged from his home. 

When German walked out, he was attacked and stabbed to death. 

Police say they discovered Telles' DNA in German's fingernails, spotted his car near the victim's home and collected clothing that matched the description of the killer inside Telles' home. 

Those clothes - namely tennis shoes and a straw hat - had been cut up by the time they were recovered from Telles' home.

Surveillance footage showed a suspect wearing gray shoes and a straw hat, which were later found at Telles' home. Telles claims all the evidence was planted. 

Telles was arrested after his DNA was found under German's fingernails. He maintained his innocence throughout his two years in custody and claimed he was framed. He had pleaded not guilty. 

Telles insisted that he was framed in a 90-minute plea to the jury last week, adding that the ordeal had 'been a nightmare, frankly.'

'Unequivocally, I am innocent,' he said. 'I did not kill Mr. German.'

What were Robert Telles' motives? 

According to an article written by German in May 2022, multiple former and then employees of Telles alleged a 'hostile work environment,' 'emotional stress,' 'bullying' and 'favoritism' by him. 

German also uncovered an alleged extramarital affair between Telles and his staffer, Roberta Lee-Kennett, 45.

Employees told German that Lee-Kennett 'acted in some cases as an office supervisor beyond her assigned duties as one of several estate coordinators because of her favored status with Telles.' 

Although the journalist got Telles' stance on the accusations, he is believed to have murdered him for his negative reporting. 

What is Robert Tellses' sentence? 

On Wednesday, Tellese was found guilty of first-degree murder. 

He has been sentenced to 20 years to life in prison with eligible parole after 20 years.