Robert Telles back in the witness stand for further testimony

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (FOX5) – The second week of the trial of Robert Telles has concluded with arguments by the defense and a rebuttal by Clark County district attorneys.

On Friday, we heard further testimony from the former district official. But before that, the 10th day of the much-watched trial began unscheduled when the state called a witness to testify against him.

Prosecutors called former Metro homicide detective Clifford Mogg to question him on why his team took a photo of Telles' wife's Apple Watch. It is a key piece of evidence because the watch contains a message to Telles from the morning of Jeff German's murder. In the message, his wife asked: “Where are you?”

However, this message was not found on Telles' phone. The prosecution accuses Telles of having deliberately deleted the message from his phone.

Then the defense stepped in.

“There was a SMS or text message deleted, correct?” asked lead defense attorney Robert Draskovich. “I was not privy to the download from Mr. Telles' phone. I heard that a text message was deleted, but I never saw it,” Mogg replied.

“The entry for this Celebrite extraction contains the word – deleted, doesn't it?” asked Draskovich. “Yes, it does not contain the term,” replied Mogg.

Telles was then again sworn in to further present his side of the story.

TELLS: “We were shown a video taken directly across the street from Mr. German's house. I don't commit crimes, but if I wanted to do something without being caught on camera and I knew there was a camera directly across the street, I wouldn't do it.”

TELLS: “I would certainly look for another means of transportation without using my own vehicle.”

TELLS: “I didn't buy a straw hat. I didn't buy a construction worker shirt.”

TELLS: “My wife was placed in a room with my children during the search. She was under the supervision of a police officer and there was no bodycam video of the search. I have seen numerous cases where bodycam video was used during searches, but that was not done in my home.”

TELLS: “I'm not the kind of person who would brutally murder another man, obviously do it with experience and training, and then go to the gym and pick up my kids. I can't imagine being that kind of person. I didn't kill Mr. German, I'm innocent. I've come to that conclusion.”

Telles again admitted to having an affair with Roberta Lee-Kennett, a former colleague. In May 2022, their relationship was the focus of German's article.

“I have to talk about the relationship with Roberta. We got closer during COVID. We obviously got too close, we made decisions and we made a mistake and that's something we regret. But if Mr. German hadn't been killed, you wouldn't hear that we entered into this relationship,” Telles told the jury.

He said German couldn't even understand the conversations he requested with Clark County. Telles points to all the deletions of personal messages between him and Lee-Kennett.

“He had no further material to write an even more damaging article,” Telles said.

One juror actually wants to know how Telles' wife found out about the relationship. This is likely the last time the jury will hear from Telles.

“Did your wife learn about the affair from the German article or did you tell her?” Judge Michelle Leavitt read the question.

“She actually found out beforehand. I found out, unfortunately, like I said, I made a mistake. It is what it is. My wife has forgiven me for what happened.”

The trial will continue on Monday.

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2:15 p.m. – The hearing is adjourned until Monday 9:30 a.m.

13:45 – The jury has closed the event for today, but the proceedings continue outside its presence.

13:19 – The court is back in session. The defense questions Matthew Hovanec on the witness stand.

11:58 am – The court will have a lunch break until 1 p.m.

11:44 am The state challenges Detective Justine Gatus to rebut.

11:34 am – Telles said he was looking up how to make fried rice for his daughter's lunch when he cut his finger because he was so upset by the investigation that was pinning him as German's killer.

Hovanec searched the device and found no evidence that Telles' phone had been searched for a prescription.

The defense is currently cross-examining whether Hovanec searched other devices or whether he only searched Telles' phone.

11:16 am – The state is again calling for rebuttal from witness Matthew Hovanec, who heads a forensic lab at the LVMPD.

11:12 am – The defense has concluded its arguments.

10:54 am – Robert Telles again addresses the alleged relationship between himself and Roberta Lee-Kennett, a former colleague in the State Administrator's office.

“I have to talk about the relationship with Roberta. We got close. We got too close. Of course we made decisions and we made a mistake and we regret that, but if Mr. German had not been killed, you would not hear that we entered into that relationship,” Telles said. “He would not have had further material to write an even more damaging article,” he continued.

“Roberta is a good person, she loves her family very much and we both made stupid mistakes, but that doesn't mean I killed Mr. German,” Telles added.

“I would never behave criminally because I respect the law,” he said. “Of course I would not commit murder because I respect human life. I do not believe that anyone should die prematurely at the hands of another person.”

10:35 am – The trial continues. Robert Telles is back in the witness stand.

10:05 am – The hearing is adjourned.

9:50 am – Defense attorney Robert Draskovich questions Det. Mogg.

9:45 am – The court is back in session. The state now appears to be refuting the case. Detective Clifford Mogg has been called back into the courtroom by the state.

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