• Home
  • About
    • Authors
  • Advertise
  • Articles
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Learn more
  • Training
  • Officer Privacy
  • Jobs
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Law Officer
Law Officer
No Result
View All Result

Las Vegas judge approves removal of Democrat public administrator accused of murdering journalist

Robert Telles is charged with murder in the stabbing death of investigative reporter Jeff German

Robert Telles

Robert Telles (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department)

October 6, 2022
Law OfficerbyLaw Officer
Share and speak up for justice, law & order...

October 6, 2022

LAS VEGAS – A judge in Las Vegas granted a motion that approves the removal of Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles from office on Wednesday. The government official is charged with murdering journalist Jeff German who had been writing critical pieces regarding Telles’ leadership.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department arrested Telles in early September. The county Democrat led an office that handles assets of residents who die without a will or close family contacts, Fox News Digital reported. 

Once the judge approved removing Telles from office, the county agency released a statement confirming the change on Wednesday.

“Clark County two weeks ago filed to remove Robert Telles from office as the elected Public Administrator. In the County’s filing, Clark County asserted that following the charge of open murder in the death of Jeff German, Robert Telles was unable to fulfill his job responsibilities and was neglectful of office,” the statement read.

“Today, a judge agreed and removed Telles from elected office. The County will now move forward in appointing someone to fulfill the end of Telles’ term, which expires on January 1, 2023, when the new Public Administrator elected this November takes office.”


Law Officer article, Thursday, September 8, 2022

LAS VEGAS – Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles was arrested on suspicion of murder Wednesday evening in the fatal stabbing of a local investigative reporter, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.

Jeff German was found dead at his home over the weekend. His investigative reporting of Telles contributed to the politician’s primary election defeat in June.

The shocking development came a day after the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department sought the public’s help in identifying a suspect in the case.

LVMPD served an early morning search warrant at Telles’ home on Wednesday. It provided the first indication that the Friday homicide might be related to German’s work exposing public corruption.

German was pursuing a potential follow-up story about Telles in the weeks before he was murdered.

Law enforcement authorities provided no further information until Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo told the Review-Journal at around 6:30 p.m. that Telles had been arrested. Shortly before that, a photographer for the news outlet captured an image of Telles on a stretcher as he was loaded into an ambulance.

Robert Telles
Robert Telles had been the subject of several critical stories by the homicide victim, Jeff German. (Clark County Nevada)

“The arrest of Robert Telles is at once an enormous relief and an outrage for the Review-Journal newsroom,” Executive Editor Glenn Cook said. “We are relieved Telles is in custody and outraged that a colleague appears to have been killed for reporting on an elected official. Journalists can’t do the important work our communities require if they are afraid a presentation of facts could lead to violent retribution. We thank Las Vegas police for their urgency and hard work and for immediately recognizing the terrible significance of Jeff’s killing. Now, hopefully, the Review-Journal, the German family and Jeff’s many friends can begin the process of mourning and honoring a great man and a brave reporter.”


Law Officer article, Wednesday, September 7, 2022

LAS VEGAS – Las Vegas police served a search warrant at the home of a Democratic city official in connection to last week’s fatal stabbing of local investigative journalist Jeff German.

Investigators entered the private residence of Robert Telles, a Clark County public administrator Wednesday morning, according to The Las Vegas Review-Journal.

German, 69, had written extensively about the alleged hostile work environment Telles, 45, reportedly ran at the city office, as well as a reported inappropriate relationship with a staffer.

German was working on a story about Telles the week he was killed, according to the news outlet.

Telles had previously accused German of targeting him in a “smear” campaign, the New York Post reported. 

German, one of Nevada’s most accomplished journalists, worked for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He was discovered on the side of his home and died of “multiple sharp force injuries” in a homicide, the Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner said Sunday.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department didn’t specify any further details regarding the search of Telles’ home or the ongoing homicide investigation.

“No further information will be provided at this time,” police said in a statement.

Telles lost his re-election bid in June following German’s reports, placing third in a Democratic primary.

Moreover, Telles repeatedly referenced the reporter and his articles on Twitter, writing in a June 18 tweet: “Looking forward to lying smear piece #4 by @JGermanRJ. #onetrickpony I think he’s mad that I haven’t crawled into a hole and died.”

Looking forward to lying smear piece #4 by @JGermanRJ. #onetrickpony I think he’s mad that I haven’t crawled into a hole and died. 😂 @LVRJ #LasVegas

— Rob Telles (@RobTellesLV) June 18, 2022

In another tweet that day, Telles wrote: “Wife hears rustling in the trash* Her: ‘Honey, is there a wild animal in the trash?’ Me: ‘No, dear. Look like it’s @JGermanRJ going through our trash for his 4th story on me.’ Oh, Jeff…”

Telles did not respond to requests for comment in the wake of the search warrant, the Post reported. 

Detectives described two clips of surveillance footage relating to the murder investigation, one showing a person wearing a large straw hat and orange, reflective construction jacket.

Democratic city official
Image of a possible suspect involved in the fatal stabbing of reporter Jeff German. (LVMPD)

The second clip showed a vehicle — a reddish GMC Yukon Denali with chrome handles, which police say was connected with the attack. A vehicle parked at Telles’ home matched that description, according to the Review-Journal.

A reddish-maroon colored GMC Yukon Denali was towed from Telles’ property at about 12:50 p.m on Wednesday.

Fox News also documented the animus that developed between Telles and German during the reporting of “internal dissension” with the public administrator’s office.

“The Clark County Public Administrator’s office has been mired in turmoil and internal dissension over the past two years, with allegations of emotional stress, bullying and favoritism leading to secret videotaping of the boss and a co-worker outside the office,” reads one of German’s articles, published in May.

Staffers reportedly filmed Telles and one of his staff members, Roberta Lee-Kennett, in the back seat of a car to secure proof of the pair’s “inappropriate relationship,” Fox reported.

Police have not said that Telles is a suspect in the homicide.

Jeff German
Jeff German (Wikipedia Commons)

German’s work in Las Vegas spanned four decades. He made a career of breaking big stories about everything from organized crime and government malfeasance to political scandals and the Oct. 1, 2017 mass shooting at the Harvest Music Festival on the Las Vegas strip that saw 60 people killed and at least 413 injured.

“The Review-Journal family is devastated to lose Jeff,” Executive Editor Glenn Cook said in the immediate aftermath of German’s death. “He was the gold standard of the news business. It’s hard to imagine what Las Vegas would be like today without his many years of shining a bright light on dark places.”


Share and speak up for justice, law & order...
Tags: Jeff GermanLVMPDRobert Telles
Law Officer

Law Officer

Law Officer is the only major law enforcement publication and website owned and operated by law enforcement—for law enforcement and supporters of justice, law, and order. This unique facet makes Law Officer much more than just a publishing company, but a true advocate for the law enforcement profession.

Related Posts

Peggy Hendrix

Las Vegas police arrest jail employee accused of stealing from inmates

May 8, 2024
Thomas Martin Elliott

Two cold-case homicides in different states connected to same suspect

February 1, 2024
Composite rendering of Nevada homicide victim. (LVMPD)

Police release composite images of man found dead inside barrel at Lake Mead

December 1, 2023
Nevada State Police

Fallen Nevada State Troopers Identified

December 1, 2023
Nevada State troopers

Two Nevada State Troopers killed while assisting motorist on freeway, suspect arrested

November 30, 2023
Jonathan Lewis Jr

Las Vegas police arrest 8 teens in beating death of high school student

November 15, 2023
Load More

Latest Articles

Reaffirming the Fourth Amendment: Barnes v. Felix

May 15, 2025
Brad Lunsford

Wife of convicted officer fights for his freedom—and a new trial

March 21, 2025
David Brinson

Four-time convicted murderer now accused of strangling wife to death during conjugal prison visit

March 21, 2025
TV sets

Illinois Bill Would Legalize Attacking Law Enforcement

March 12, 2025

Report: President Biden Did Not Actually Sign Most Documents

March 9, 2025

14 Year Old Ambushes, Murders Newark Police Officer

March 8, 2025
Load More

Weekly E-Newsletter

Subscribe—and get the latest news and editorials direct from Law Officer each week!

[newsletter_form type="minimal"]

Protect Your Privacy

JOIN THE FIGHT

BE COURAGEOUS

POPULAR GEAR

Tactical Pants

Tactical Boots

 

FIND MORE…

Law Officer

© 2024 LawOfficer.com

LawOfficer.com

  • Home
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Corrections
  • Contact

Speak up for justice, law & order

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About
    • Authors
  • Advertise
  • Articles
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Learn more
  • Training
  • Officer Privacy
  • Jobs
  • Contact

© 2024 LawOfficer.com