Murder trial begins in killing of Review-Journal reporter

Before his murder trial began Monday afternoon, former Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles waived any further search of a cellphone and laptop computer belonging to Las Vegas Review-Journal investigative reporter Jeff German, the man Telles is accused of killing.

Telles’ decision effectively ends the possibility that a nearly two-year legal dispute between the news organization, prosecutors and police could interrupt the trial with a fight over press freedoms.

David Chavez, an attorney representing the Review-Journal, said in court that the news organization had provided the prosecution and the defense with information from German’s laptop on Monday morning. The newspaper handed over some of the journalistic information on the devices related to the case, but withheld other privileged information related and unrelated to the case to protect German’s confidential sources and reporting.

District Judge Michelle Leavitt questioned Telles at the request of both prosecutors and his own defense attorney. Telles confirmed he did not want the devices searched further and that he was not challenging any of the news organization’s claims that some data from German’s cellphone and laptop are protected by Nevada’s reporting privilege and can be kept from the defense and prosecution.

“You believe it’s in your best interest to go to trial?” Leavitt asked Telles outside the presence of prosecutors.

“Yes, your honor,” he responded.

Police seized several devices from German’s home after he was killed nearly two years ago, triggering a lengthy legal fight. The Review-Journal sought to prevent law enforcement and the defense from searching the phone and computers without restrictions because the devices likely contained confidential source and reporting information.

The Review-Journal has argued that Nevada’s reporter shield law protections extend after a journalist’s death. The district attorney’s office and Las Vegas police argued that shield law protections end when a journalist dies, and they sought to search the devices without interference from the Review-Journal. The Nevada Supreme Court sided with the Review-Journal in an October ruling, and all sides agreed that Review-Journal employees would conduct the search of German’s phone and laptop.

Chavez said in court on Monday that the newspaper had provided both sides with information from German’s cellphone months ago.

Telles wanted trial to begin

Telles’ defense attorney, Robert Draskovich, told the judge that his client was waiving further search of the devices and wanted the trial to begin Monday.

“Obviously he’s not waiving any other appellate rights, post-conviction rights,” Draskovich said.

Telles has been incarcerated since he was arrested in September 2022 and accused of killing German over articles the journalist had written about his conduct as Clark County public administrator. Prosecutors have accused Telles of fatally stabbing German, 69, outside the reporter’s home in Las Vegas on Sept. 2, 2022.

Telles faces a charge of murder with a deadly weapon against a victim 60 or older. He has maintained he was framed in the killing.

Prosecutors have pointed to “overwhelming” evidence against Telles, including his DNA found underneath German’s fingernails. Telles’ wife’s vehicle also matched the description of a vehicle driven by the suspect. Several pieces of clothing matching the suspect’s description were found in Telles’ home, including cut-up pieces of tennis shoes with blood on them, according to court records.

Before the trial began with jury selection, the judge also ruled on two motions filed late last month by Telles’ defense. The motions asked the judge to dismiss the charges against Telles and exclude certain evidence from trial, including articles German wrote for the Review-Journal.

‘Protect the record’

Draskovich previously said he did not expect the motions to affect the start of trial, and that Telles wanted the motions filed “to protect the record.”

Neither side presented arguments on the motion to dismiss the charges, and the judge denied the motion at the start of the hearing.

The second motion also argued that additional photographs of German should not be allowed during trial because they would “serve to unduly prejudice” the jury. Draskovich told the judge he would state his objections during the trial.

Draskovich also argued that German’s articles should not be admitted into evidence because they contained hearsay information, although Chief Deputy District Attorney Pamela Weckerly said that prosecutors only planned to use the articles to establish a motive, not to prove whether the allegations against Telles that German reported were true.

The judge said she would give the jury instructions on how to consider the articles.

Leavitt also denied part of the motion that sought to exclude statements from a forensic scientist who testified to a grand jury that Telles’ DNA was found underneath German’s fingernails. The motion had argued that the testimony was based on evidence that was “unlawfully acquired.”

Jury selection then began Monday afternoon, with attorneys looking to whittle down the crowd to a panel of 12 jurors, plus alternates. The court expected a pool of 65 potential jurors on Monday, but several failed to show up.

Telles wore a suit jacket, white shirt and yellow tie, sitting quietly with his attorneys as jurors were asked about their ability to be impartial, their opinions on the criminal justice system, and whether they were familiar with the case.

Several potential jurors said they had followed the case in the local news media.

Just under 40 potential jurors were told to return on Tuesday, when the trial is scheduled to resume at 10:30 a.m. Attorneys have said they expect the trial to last about two weeks.

Draskovich said he expects opening statements to start Wednesday.

“I anticipate us having a jury by tomorrow,” he said Monday.

Contact Katelyn Newberg at knewberg@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0240.