Robert Telles SOBS in court after being denied bail for killing Jeff German in case that shocked Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA: Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles, who is accused of killing Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German on September 3, has been denied bail on Tuesday, October 18. Telles appeared to be praying in court and later wept as he was denied bail in front of his wife and mother. Judge Karen Bennett-Haron said she will “reconsider” during the preliminary hearing, which is scheduled for October 26.
This comes after Telles’ public defender filed a motion on October 10, requesting to either release him on his own recognizance or set his bail at $100,000. According to Las Vegas Review-Journal, Chief Deputy Public Defender Edward Kane argued in the motion that holding Telles in custody without bail is unnecessary. The motion read, "Notably, a detainee poses a flight risk only if, by a preponderance of the evidence, there exists a current indication that they may intentionally evade the criminal justice system. Here, there is no such indication."
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Filing an opposition to the motion, Chief Deputy District Attorney Pamela Weckerly argued that Telles should not be granted bail. Prosecutors wrote in the motion that Telles is charged with first-degree murder, even though he has formally been charged with “open murder,” which is a more general allegation. The opposing motion read,
a judge can deny bail in a first-degree murder case “if the proof is evident and the presumption is great."
During the hearing on October 18, Telles’ attorney pointed out that Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said previously that Telles is considered “a flight risk and a danger to the community.” His attorney said Wolfson had mentioned that he would argue for a “very high bail.” Commenting on it, Telles’ attorney said that in his experience, all murder cases are either no bail or high bail. “This isn’t a no bail case. The district attorney has already said so. In this case, the safety of the community argument, Mr Telles is a danger to no one,” his attorney said as reported by Fox5.
Details of Jeff German's murder
As previously reported, German was found dead with stab wounds outside his home on September 3. Just after three days, on September 6, Capt Dori Koren shared a few photos of a vehicle believed to be connected to the killing, a red or maroon 2007-2014 GMC Yukon Denali with chrome handles, a sunroof, and a luggage rack. Later that evening, Review-Journal reporters spotted a similar car in Telles' driveway matching the description. Following this, police reached Telles’ home around 6.30 am on September 7 and blocked off nearby streets.
Then, at 9 am, police released a statement saying they were “currently serving search warrants.” And just hours after a search warrant was served at Telles’ home, he was taken into custody on the night of September 7 for the murder of the reporter, who had published several stories about Telles’ office, saying it was in “turmoil," and wrote about multiple claims of bullying and favoritism within his office. Telles’ DNA was discovered under German’s fingernails, as per WSAV.