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(LAS VEGAS) — The trial of Robert Telles, the former Nevada county clerk who allegedly murdered a journalist he accused of destroying his career and marriage, began with jury selection Monday.
The former Clark County public administrator is accused in the death of 69-year-old Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German, who was found stabbed to death outside his home in September 2022.
Telles, 47, was arrested days later after DNA evidence was found in his home linking him to the crime scene, police said. He has been held without bail since then.
According to police, Telles was observed approaching German’s home the day before the murder and allegedly got into an argument with him.
The next day, Telles allegedly disguised himself with a straw hat and a safety vest, left his phone at home and then made his way to German’s house, where police say he stabbed the journalist seven times.
When executing a search warrant at the local politician’s house, police found the hat and a pair of shoes with blood on them. According to police, both had been cut up, allegedly to destroy evidence.
His DNA was also found on German’s hands and fingernails, police said.
Police arrested Telles with stab wounds that they said were not life-threatening.
Telles has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder and could face life in prison if convicted.
“He was looking forward to the trial,” Telles’ defense attorney Robert Draskovich told the Associated Press. “He wants to tell his story.”
Draskovich did not immediately respond to ABC News’ request for comment.
Before his death, German had published an investigation into the hostile work environment in Telles’ office, which included bullying, retaliation and an “inappropriate relationship” between Telles and a female employee. Telles denied the allegations.
In an interview on ABC’s “Good Morning America” shortly after his arrest, Rita Reid, a former colleague of Telles, called German a “hero” for uncovering the unrest in Telles’ office and, according to her, bringing it to light together with her colleagues.
When she learned of German’s death, Reid said her “first thought was Robert Telles.”
“His death was absolutely devastating to me and my colleagues, the people he stood up for,” Reid said of German. “He was our hero.”
Las Vegas Sheriff Joseph Lombardo had previously described the case as “unusual” and stated that “the murder of a journalist is particularly disturbing.”
“It’s problematic because this is a journalist. And we expect journalism to be open and transparent and to oversee the government,” Lombardo said. “And when people take it upon themselves to do harm that is associated with that profession, I think it’s very important that we put all eyes on it and handle the case appropriately, as we did in this case.”
German was the only journalist killed in the United States in 2022. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, at least 67 journalists have been killed worldwide this year.
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