A Nevada jury has found Robert Telles, a former local politician, guilty of murdering an investigative journalist who reported on alleged mismanagement within his office months before Telles was killed.

The jury reached a guilty verdict on Wednesday, two days after deliberations began. He now faces a possible life sentence.

The verdict concludes a weeks-long trial in Telles’ case role in the gruesome murder of veteran Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German in September 2022.

Telles, a former Democratic administrator of a Clark County office that administers unclaimed estates, was at the center of German’s investigation into allegations of bullying and hostility. German also reported on the then-politician’s alleged romantic relationship with a female employee. Telles denied the allegations at the time. He subsequently lost his reelection bid in the Democratic primary and later criticized German on social media.

Days after German was found dead with stab wounds in his home in September, Telles was arrested on suspicion of murder.

During the trial, jurors heard emotional testimony from German’s neighbors, as well as Telles’ accusations on the stand of a bizarre conspiracy against him. Telles maintained his innocence and claimed that his office colleagues, a real estate firm, prosecutors and the Las Vegas police were trying to “convict” him of fighting corruption.

“I’m not crazy. I’m not trying to avoid my responsibility,” Telles testified. “I didn’t kill Mr. German and I’m innocent.”

Prosecutors disputed these claims during the trial, telling the jury that they simply “didn’t make sense.” German’s attorney, Robert Draskovich, disagreed, though he said in his closing argument that his client’s belief in a conspiracy against him was “understandable.”

“What other options does he have under these circumstances?” Draskovich asked.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.