Trial of Robert Telles day 4: Witness testimony continues

LAS VEGAS ( KLAS ) — The trial of a former politician accused of stabbing a long-time Las Vegas investigative reporter to death in 2022 is set to continue, bringing with it more witnesses and cross-examination as the trial moves into day four.

“We all know killing a journalist does not kill a story,” Defense Attorney Robert Draskovich said Wednesday during his opening argument in the trial of Robert Telles for the stabbing death of journalist Jeff German. The tone of day three was said to be somewhat subdued but dramatic by those in the courtroom.

The defense’s apparent strategy: proving that Telles was framed for the murder of German, and showing that there were so many officers at the crime scene for such an extended period that there was ample opportunity to plant evidence. Stephanie Smissen, a senior crime scene analyst for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, was asked about crime scene details by the defense but was unable to say for sure who else was there or exactly what was going on.

Day three ended with Cliff Mogg, a retired Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department detective, being questioned regarding video evidence of a red Yukon SUV’s path to and from the crime scene. Thursday is expected to begin with the defense’s cross-examination of Mogg.

Retired Detective Cross-Examined

Just before 11:15 a.m. on Thursday, Mogg took the stand and was questioned by Draskovich regarding his investigation of vehicles potentially involved in the killing of German. The defense attorney asked the retired detective several questions about what he did not know about the previous locations of the SUV. Draskovich then questioned Mogg on the accuracy of the timestamps of the video in question, as well as the volume of cameras on the street of Telles’ home. Mogg told the defense that houses don’t all necessarily have cameras, and just because they do have cameras does not mean the cameras caught something with evidentiary relevance.

Draskovich asked Mogg if he was aware that there were 67 red Yukon Denali SUVs in the Las Vegas area, seeming to insinuate that the details to which he previously testified are not noteworthy and could be any Denali.

“You’re saying that that’s the one that belongs to the Telles residence, but that’s it, that’s — you’re drawing this conclusion based on this image,” Draskovich asked Mogg.

“Oh no, I was present for the execution of a search warrant at Mr. Telles’ residence, where several items of evidence were recovered that absolutely confirmed my belief that Mr. Telles’ vehicle was the one used in the commission of Jeffery German’s murder,” Mogg responded.

Just after 11:40 a.m., it was announced that the next witness would be arriving at 1 p.m. Therefore, the court went to recess for lunch until that witness arrived.

Who is Robert Telles?

Robert Telles is a lawyer and former public official with Clark County. According to the county, Telles has lived in the area for at least 20 years. He was the focus of several investigative stories by Review-Journal investigative reporter Jeff German.

Telles graduated from UNLV’s Boyd School of Law in 2014. One year later he founded Accolade Law, which was located on West Charleston Boulevard between Rancho Drive and Valley View Boulevard and focused on estate planning and probate.

In 2018, Telles first ran for Clark County public administrator as a Democrat. He claimed victory over Republican candidate Thomas Fougere and took office in January 2019 to serve a four-year term, which ended on Jan. 2, 2023. Telles ran for re-election, losing to fellow Democrat Rita Reid.

His campaign was mired in controversy surrounding stories written by the Review-Journal, specifically German, who uncovered claims of bullying and retaliation within his office.

Who was Jeff German?

Jeff German had been an investigative reporter for the Las Vegas Review-Journal since 2010 after more than two decades at the Las Vegas Sun, where he was a columnist and reporter who covered courts, politics, labor, government, and organized crime.

Glenn Cook, the Review-Journal’s executive editor, said German was known to break big stories and develop “impactful investigations across every part of Southern Nevada life.”

German had published several stories about Telles’ office, saying it was in “turmoil” in the months leading up to his stabbing death on Labor Day weekend of 2022. German was found with seven stab wounds, including ones to his neck and torso, according to police documents.

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