Telles Trial-Former Clark County Official Faces Jury as Murder Trial Concludes

Murder In The Morning | Daily True Crime News

The murder trial of Robert Telles, the former Clark County public administrator accused of killing Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German, has reached a critical juncture as testimony concluded on Friday. The case has drawn significant public attention, particularly as prosecutors allege that a series of articles written by German about Telles could have motivated the killing nearly two years ago.
Retired Las Vegas Metro Police detective Clifford Mogg returned to the stand, testifying about the investigation’s findings. Under questioning by Prosecutor Christopher Hamner, Mogg discussed the evidence found on Telles' and his wife’s electronic devices. Notably, Hamner highlighted photos of messages on the Apple watch belonging to Telles' wife that appeared to have been deleted from Telles' phone. "Were you aware these messages were deleted on Mr. Telles' phone?" Hamner asked. Mogg confirmed, stating, "Yes, I was made aware of that fact."
In a dramatic turn, Telles took the stand to address the jury directly, reiterating his claim of innocence and suggesting he was being framed. "I am innocent," Telles asserted firmly. "I'm not the kind of person who could brutally murder another man."
His testimony, however, was met with scrutiny from the prosecution. Hamner pressed Telles on inconsistencies in his account, especially concerning his whereabouts on the day of German's murder. "Isn't there a slide from August 1st to August 31st talking about location data on your phone?" Hamner asked. "It was a blank slate, right?"
Telles had previously told the jury that on the day German was killed, he was at home, making chicken fried rice for his daughter using a Google recipe. He explained the presence of a deep cut on his finger at the time of his arrest as the result of a kitchen accident. However, Metro Forensic Lab Supervisor Matthew Hovanec testified that there were no search results on Telles' phone for terms like "recipe" or "fried rice" on the day of the murder. When questioned by Telles' attorney, Robert Draskovich, about whether these terms could have been searched on other devices, Hovanec confirmed that no such searches were found.
The decision by Telles to testify has been a point of considerable debate. Channel 13 in Las Vegas reported numerous inquiries from viewers regarding Telles' choice to take the stand. Criminal defense attorney Malcolm LaVergne weighed in on this strategy, noting the potential risks. "There has been no bigger witness for the prosecution's case than Mr. Telles choosing to get up and testify on his own behalf," said LaVergne. "This is the problem with testifying when you're a defendant. A lot of things can come in that wouldn't have if it wasn't for Mr. Telles testifying."
Throughout his testimony, Telles repeatedly insisted on his innocence, stating he "did not kill Mr. German." However, his demeanor seemed to shift on the final day of testimony, appearing discouraged and despondent as jurors took their final notes. The trial proceedings concluded with a closed-door meeting between the judge and attorneys, setting the stage for the next phase.
The jury is expected to begin deliberations soon, possibly as early as Monday afternoon. As the trial moves toward its conclusion, the focus remains on the conflicting narratives presented by both sides and the evidence — or lack thereof — supporting each. With the case nearing its end, all eyes are on the jury as they prepare to weigh the evidence and deliver a verdict that will determine Telles' fate.
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