Telles petitions for murder conviction to be overturned

The former elected Clark County official convicted of the murder of Las Vegas Review-Journal investigative journalist Jeff German three years ago has petitioned the Nevada Supreme Court for a new trial.

Robert Telles, the county’s former public administrator, is asking the higher court to reverse his October conviction, according to a opening brief filed Tuesday through a public defender.

A judge sentenced Telles to life in prison with a possibility of parole after 28 years — with credit for two years served — following a jury trial.

The following month, Telles filed a Supreme Court notice of appeal, records show. After several delays, the court granted an extension that gave Telles until Thursday to file an opening brief.

Telles was convicted of first-degree murder with enhancements because a deadly weapon was used and German was older than age 60.

He maintained his innocence throughout the criminal proceedings. Telles was removed from his position after his arrest.

“In this case, there were several errors that warrant reversal, either individually or in aggregate,” according to the 252-page filing.

The filing argues that Telles was denied an opportunity to use an expert witness who would’ve testified “regarding the industry standards pertaining to police proceedings and police investigations.”

In a report cited in the filing, expert David Sweeney took issue with how the Metropolitan Police Department handled a search warrant through alleged “omissions and misrepresentations” that were designed to unfairly persuade the court to issue the warrant.”

“Telles’ entire theory of defense was that he was framed by LVMPD, and as support Telles’ should have been permitted to offer testimony regarding strange occurrences and anomalies in their investigation of him as a potential suspect,” the brief said.

The brief also referred to a jury note “indicating a deadlocked jury” that was received by District Court Judge Michelle Leavitt the day before the jury came to a verdict.

“The district court erred by failing to inform Telles of a jury note indicating a deadlocked jury,” the brief argued.

Robert Draskovich, Telles’ former attorney, has said he would have asked for a mistrial had he known about the note, the Review-Journal previously reported.

Before his murder on Sept. 2, 2022, outside his own house in Las Vegas, German had written stories outlining allegations of malfeasance against Telles at the office Telles oversaw.

Telles’ DNA was found underneath German’s fingernails, Metro employees testified during Telles’ trial. In addition, police found cut-up pieces of a tennis shoe in a plastic bag under Telles’ couch, as well as a cut-up straw hat resembling the hat the killer was seen wearing in security footage. In his testimony, Telles said he was framed.

Contact Ricardo Torres-Cortez at rtorres@reviewjournal.com.