County trying to fire Las Vegas official accused of killing reporter

A Las Vegas county has initiated the process to remove the elected official accused of killing investigative journalist Jeff German from office.

Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles has “neglected to perform,” county officials said in a Tuesday statement, allowing them to take steps toward replacing him.

Telles has been in custody since Sept. 7, five days after he allegedly killed German, a reporter with the Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter. But even as he sits behind bars, Telles has continued to collect his $130,000 salary.

“Clark County has taken the first step in asking the court to remove Robert Telles from elected office as the Public Administrator,” the municipality said.

After declaring Telles unfit for office, Clark County would be able to formally appoint his replacement until voters can elect a new public administrator in November.

The disgraced elected official is accused of turning off his cellphone and “lying in wait” for German, 69, before stabbing him to death.

Prosecutors called the murder “willful, deliberate and premeditated.”

The investigative journalist had been covering an alleged inappropriate relationship Telles was carrying on with estate coordinator Roberta Lee-Kennett. Both Telles and Lee-Kennett are married.

German had also been reporting on alleged bullying and favoritism under Telles’ supervision.

Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson has said he will determine in coming weeks whether Telles will face the death penalty.

In court Tuesday, Telles only spoke in acknowledgment of the charges. He wore shackles and handcuffs but no longer had bandages on his forearms from his post-arrest suicide attempt.

He will reappear in court Oct. 26 for a preliminary hearing of evidence to determine if he should stand trial in state court.

With Post Wires