LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — The jury has found the former county official guilty of murdering a Las Vegas journalist.

The verdict, delivered Wednesday afternoon, found Robert Telles guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German, plus two reduced sentences.

The sentencing phase began later in the afternoon, starting with a statement from German’s brother. Prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty.

The case was presented to the jury after Monday’s oral arguments, which concluded a two-week trial filled with evidence and testimony, including that of Telles himself.

Jurors deliberated for three days. After the verdict was read, Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson told reporters that justice had been served.

“Today’s ruling should send a message that attempts to silence the media or to silence or intimidate journalists will not be tolerated,” Wolfson said.

Telles was accused of killing German in retaliation for a series of articles alleging that Telles created a hostile work environment and had an inappropriate relationship with a female employee while serving as Clark County public official.

Prosecutors argued that the articles likely contributed to Telles’ defeat in a 2022 Democratic primary. Among the evidence presented to the jury was a message Telles sent to an employee expressing concern that the articles would harm his job prospects after he left his position. German was also preparing another article about Telles’ relationship with the employee shortly before his death.

Physical evidence included DNA found under German’s fingernails during an autopsy, which matched a sample taken from Telles. Police said they also found a cut-up straw hat and sneakers in Telles’ home that matched those worn by the attacker as captured on video, and the SUV seen leaving the scene of the murder matched the Telles family’s maroon GMC Yukon.

The defense argued that Telles was framed for the murder because he was investigating corruption in his office. Telles testified that he had no anger toward German and was not worried about finding work after his term as public administrator ended.

He accused a real estate company of likely being behind German’s murder and of planting evidence to implicate him and disrupt an investigation into corrupt activities.

Wolfson called Telles’ claims of a conspiracy “ridiculous.”

“The only conspiracy was between him and his evil mind,” Wolfson said. “All the people he accused of being in a conspiracy had no part in a conspiracy, and I think the jury’s verdict goes right back to that.”

The jury’s questions mainly concerned technical aspects, such as requests for a second laptop and a demonstration of zooming in on video, which suggested video evidence was a major sticking point.

That happened after Telles’ attorney, Robert Draskovich, presented a startling photo during his plea of ​​guilty showing a silhouette of a person who did not resemble Telles driving a maroon SUV, which the evidence claimed was the key to the crime.

Glenn Cook, editor in chief of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, issued a statement on the ruling:

Today, a Clark County jury delivered a verdict of justice for Jeff German, and we hope it brings some comfort to his family, friends, and colleagues. Jeff was killed because he did the kind of work he was proud of: His reporting held an elected official accountable for bad behavior and gave voters the power to elect someone else to the job.

Robert Telles could have joined the long line of publicly shamed Nevada politicians who have moved on with their lives, out of the spotlight or back in. Instead, he carried out a premeditated revenge killing with terrifying brutality.

Today also brought a measure of justice for murdered journalists around the world. Our jobs are becoming increasingly risky and sometimes dangerous. In many countries, the murderers of journalists go unpunished. Not so in Las Vegas. Our thanks go to the police and prosecutors whose diligent work won this conviction.

Let us also remember that this community has lost much more than a trusted journalist. Jeff was a good man who left behind a family who loved him and friends who cherished him. His murder remains a disgrace. He will be missed.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.