{"id":2328619,"date":"2024-08-21T17:12:49","date_gmt":"2024-08-21T21:12:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-democratic-politician-to-testify-in-his-trial-in-killing-of-journalist\/"},"modified":"2024-08-21T17:16:50","modified_gmt":"2024-08-21T21:16:50","slug":"former-democratic-politician-to-testify-in-his-trial-in-killing-of-journalist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-democratic-politician-to-testify-in-his-trial-in-killing-of-journalist\/","title":{"rendered":"Former Democratic Politician to Testify in His Trial in Killing of Journalist"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fformer-democratic-politician-to-testify-in-his-trial-in-killing-of-journalist%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2328619&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Robert Telles, a former Democratic elected official from the Las Vegas area, is currently on trial for the murder of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/george-blake-last-in-line-of-cold-war-spies-who-betrayed-britain-dies-at-98\/\" title=\"George Blake, last in line of Cold War spies who betrayed Britain, dies at 98\">investigative journalist<\/a> Jeff German. German had written critically of Telles, and prosecutors allege that\u2063 this served as Telles&#8217; motive for the\u200b homicide. After several days \u2062of testimonies and evidence, Telles is set to testify in his defense, despite\u200d his attorney advising against it. Telles has maintained\u200c his innocence and claims he did not kill German.\u200b However, evidence against him includes his DNA found under German&#8217;s fingernails, connections to a\u200d suspicious SUV spotted near the crime \u200dscene,\u200b and \u2064incriminating digital evidence found on\u2063 his devices. As the trial progresses, Telles insists on presenting his story\u2064 to the \u200cjury, \u2063despite the risks involved in cross-examination by prosecutors. The \u200bcourtroom remains a focus for both supporters of \u2063German and individuals\u2064 following Telles&#8217; defense.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section>\n<p>For two years, from behind bars and in courtrooms, to journalists and judges, a former Las Vegas-area Democratic elected official has insisted he wants to tell his story to the jury that will decide whether he goes to prison or goes free after trial in the killing of an investigative journalist who wrote articles critical of him and his workplace conduct two years ago.<\/p>\n<p>On Wednesday, murder defendant Robert Telles gets his chance.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;He has said he is going to tell his story. I anticipate him telling that story tomorrow,&rdquo; Telles&rsquo; defense attorney, Robert Draskovich, told reporters after a Tuesday <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/marine-jailed-criticizing-bidens-afghanistan-withdrawal-plead-guilty-court-hearing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">court hearing<\/a> during which Telles told the Nevada judge handling his murder trial that he knows he has no obligation to testify.<\/p>\n<p>With the jury out of the courtroom, Clark County District Court Judge Michelle Leavitt questioned Telles directly for several minutes about whether he wanted to risk answering questions under oath from prosecutors who rested their case Monday after four days, 28 witnesses and hundreds of pages of photos, police reports and video evidence against him.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Mr. Telles, you understand you have heard all of the evidence that the state intends to present in this case,&rdquo; the judge said. &ldquo;You understand that you cannot be compelled to testify in this matter?&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>  <script> \t\t\t\tif( ! getCookie( 'ff_subbed' ) ) if( typeof FFADS.replace_ict !='undefined' ) if( FFADS.replace_ict ) eval( FFADS.replace_ict ); \t\t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Yes, your honor,&rdquo; Telles responded.<\/p>\n<p>Draskovich and co-counsel Michael Horvath said outside court that they advised Telles against testifying, but he has insisted.<\/p>\n<p>The defense might still call three other witnesses, Draskovich said, including a witness who might corroborate Telles&rsquo; account that he visited a local membership gym the day of the murder. Telles is expected to be the last person called in the defense case, the defense attorney said. No family members or character witnesses are scheduled. Telles&rsquo; testimony could take more than a day.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s entitled to his defense,&rdquo; Draskovich told <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/simone-biles-calls-reporters-olympic-habit-interviews-guys-really-gotta-stop\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reporters<\/a>. &ldquo;This is the defense that he wants to present.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Telles, an attorney who was once the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-antrim-co-forensic-report-bombshell-reveals-dominion-machines-were-set-at-68-05-error-ratemeaning-68-05-of-ballots-could-be-sent-out-for-mass-adjudication-giving-individuals-or-ma\/\" title=\"BREAKING: Antrim Co. Forensic Report BOMBSHELL Reveals Dominion Machines Were Set At 68.05% Error Rate\u2026Meaning 68.05% Of Ballots Could Be Sent Out For Mass Adjudication, Giving Individuals Or Machines Ability To Change 68.05% Of Votes\">county administrator<\/a> of unclaimed estates, has been jailed for almost two years while preparing for trial. He has said he didn&rsquo;t kill Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German, but did not say during jailhouse interviews with media what he was doing the day German was killed.<\/p>\n<p>His DNA was found beneath German&rsquo;s fingernails. He had family ties to a maroon SUV seen in German&rsquo;s neighborhood about the time German was killed. Police found on Telles&rsquo; cellphone and computer hundreds of photos of German&rsquo;s home and several pages of German&rsquo;s identity records, including time stamps showing they had been collected just weeks before the killing.<\/p>\n<p>At Telles&rsquo; house, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/near-death-experiences-a-look-back-at-famous-figures-whose-claims-drew-criticism\/\" title=\"\u2018Near-Death\u2019 Experiences: A Look Back At Famous Figures Whose Claims Drew Criticism\">police found<\/a> cut-up pieces of a broad straw hat and gray athletic shoes that looked like those worn by a person captured on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/gingerbread-man-seen-roaming-city-streets-security-cameras-catch-disturbing-move-reaches-home-doors\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">neighborhood security<\/a> video wearing an over-sized orange long-sleeve shirt, carrying a big cloth satchel and seen slipping into a side yard of German&rsquo;s home before the reporter was ambushed and left dead in a pool of blood.<\/p>\n<p>Neither an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fact-check-did-ron-desantis-pose-for-a-photo-holding-up-this-anti-mask-shirt\/\" title=\"FACT CHECK: Did Ron DeSantis Pose For A Photo Holding Up This Anti-Mask Shirt?\">orange shirt<\/a> nor a murder weapon was entered as evidence.<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors allege Telles was motivated to kill after German authored articles for the Las Vegas Review-Journal about a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hot-mic-all-trustees-of-school-board-resign-after-mocking-parents-wanting-schools-reopened\/\" title=\"HOT MIC: All Trustees Of School Board Resign After Mocking Parents Wanting Schools Reopened\">county office<\/a> in turmoil, including allegations that Telles had an inappropriate relationship with a female co-worker. Telles lost his bid for re-election as Clark County Public Administrator and Guardian, and derided German and the newspaper on social media.<\/p>\n<p>German spent 44 years covering Las Vegas mobsters and public officials at the Las Vegas Sun and then at the larger Review-Journal. About 10 of his family members and friends have attended each day of Telles&rsquo; trial. They have declined to speak to the media.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-style: italic;\">The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> <label>* Name<\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> <\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> <label>* <\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> <\/div>\n<p> <label>* Message<\/label> <br \/> <textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea>  <\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> <input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\">  <\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script>  <\/div>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<style> \t\t\t \t\t\t.insticator-unit.type-commenting{margin: 0 10px 25px 10px}@media screen and (max-width:1060px){#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{margin: 0 auto 25px auto !important;}}#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{height: 280px !important; width: 336px !important} \t\t<\/style>\n<div class=\"insticator-unit type-commenting\">\n<div class=\"insticator-ads\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<div class=\"insticator-ads additional\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For two years, a former Democratic official from the Las Vegas area has maintained, while incarcerated and in court, that he wishes to share his side of the story with the jury responsible for determining his fate regarding the murder of an investigative journalist who published critical articles about him and his professional conduct. On Wednesday, Robert Telles, the defendant in this murder case, will have that opportunity. His defense attorney, Robert Draskovich, informed reporters after a court hearing on Tuesday that Telles intends to present his narrative during the trial. During this hearing, Telles acknowledged to Judge Michelle Leavitt that he understands he is not required to testify.<\/p>\n<p>With the jury absent from the courtroom, Judge Leavitt engaged Telles in a discussion about whether he was willing to face questioning under oath by prosecutors who concluded their case on Monday after presenting four days&#8217; worth of evidence involving 28 witnesses and extensive documentation against him. &#8220;Mr. Telles, you understand you have heard all of the evidence that the state intends to present in this case,&#8221; she stated. &#8220;You understand that you cannot be compelled to testify?&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Yes, your honor,&#8221; replied Telles. Although Draskovich and co-counsel Michael Horvath advised against it outside of court, Telles remains determined to testify.<\/p>\n<p>The defense may still call three additional witnesses according to Draskovich; one could potentially support Telles&#8217; claim that he visited a local gym on the day of German&#8217;s murder. The defense attorney indicated that Telles is expected to be called last during their presentation. No family members or character witnesses are scheduled for testimony at this time.<\/p>\n<p>Telles\u2019 testimony could extend beyond a single day as Draskovich emphasized his right to defend himself: &#8220;This is the defense that he wants to present.&#8221; Having been jailed for nearly two years while preparing for trial as an attorney formerly overseeing unclaimed estates in Clark County, Telles has consistently denied killing Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German but has refrained from disclosing what he was doing on the day German was murdered.<\/p>\n<p>Evidence includes DNA found under German&#8217;s fingernails linked back to Telles and familial connections with a maroon SUV spotted near German\u2019s residence around when he was killed. Investigators discovered numerous photos of German\u2019s home along with personal records timestamped just weeks before his death on both Telles\u2019 cellphone and computer.<\/p>\n<p>At his residence were also pieces of a straw hat cut into sections along with gray athletic shoes resembling those worn by an individual seen entering German&#8217;s yard shortly before he was attacked and left dead in bloodshed; however neither an orange shirt nor any murder weapon were presented as evidence during proceedings.<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors argue that motivation behind German\u2019s killing stemmed from articles detailing turmoil within county offices which included allegations regarding inappropriate relations between employees\u2014specifically implicating Telles\u2014who subsequently lost re-election efforts as Clark County Public Administrator while disparaging both German and media outlets online.<\/p>\n<p>German had dedicated 44 years covering organized crime figures alongside public officials first at Las Vegas Sun then later at Review-Journal where approximately ten family members or friends attended each day throughout trial proceedings without engaging media representatives for comments<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2328620,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/d30a17ffb6f9481c9e8c4f77c8dd4d6c-scaled.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[38850,38851,33211,8676,4853],"class_list":["post-2328619","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-former-democratic-politician","tag-journalist-killing","tag-legal-news","tag-testimony","tag-trial"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/d30a17ffb6f9481c9e8c4f77c8dd4d6c-scaled.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2328619","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2328619"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2328619\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2328620"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2328619"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2328619"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2328619"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}