Robert Telles, an elected official who is accused of murdering investigative reporter Jeff German, will remain in office for months and still get paid despite staying in prison.
Last week, the suspect was denied bail after he was charged in the stabbing murder of the victim who had been probing Telles' alleged misconduct in office. However, a county leader said that despite sitting in prison, the cash will still flow to the suspect's pockets.
Robert Telles
In a statement, Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom said, "For now, he's still an elected officer and he'll get paid while he's in jail," referring to Telles. Segerblom noted that voters have the option to recall the disgraced official, who lost a Democratic primary in June, but noted that 100,000 signatures are required to put the ballot initiative forward.
He said that while they can take the scope of work away from Telles he still has the title and will get his salary because the voters picked him. The suspect reportedly earns a salary of $130,000 per year, as per the New York Post.
Several county officials have stressed that they have already taken steps against Telles, including prohibiting him from all Clark County facilities. The county added that the suspect's staff should no longer report to him, which will continue until a new administrator starts following the November election.
On Thursday, the county said that the Public Administrator is an elected position and noted that it was reviewing its options under the law regarding Telles' current status. The position is responsible for securing the property of the deceased while loved ones or an executor is found.
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According to the Daily Beast, German was known to report on political corruption and government wrongdoing for decades before he was fatally stabbed outside of his home on Sept. 2 during a confrontation.
Brutal Stabbing Murder
A Las Vegas police captain later said that 45-year-old Telles was upset to learn that the 69-year-old victim was looking further into alleged misdeeds by the Democrat leading up to the murder. Previously, the victim reported on an alleged affair between Telles and a female worker in the latter's office, though both involved parties denied the accusations.
Authorities arrested the public administrator on Wednesday night after an hour-long standoff during which police said that Telles barricaded himself inside his home. Law enforcement confirmed that the suspect was taken out of his residence in a stretcher after he suffered "self-inflicted wounds."
On Thursday, Sheriff Joe Lombardo said, "This has been an unusual case from the beginning - the murder of an investigative journalist and the main suspect an elected official here in Clark County. Every murder is tragic, but the killing of a journalist is particularly troublesome."
During a court appearance, Telles was denied bail as prosecutor Richard Scow revealed that German had been stabbed seven times and allegedly had the suspect's DNA under his fingernails.
In a statement, Justice of the Peace Elana Lee Graham called the DNA detail "quite chilling," arguing it was recovered during the time that German was fighting for his life. A report showed that the victim had several defensive wounds on his hands and arms, CNN reported.
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