Hope for Prisoners founder Jon Ponder arrested on sex-crime charges

Hope for Prisoners founder Jon Ponder was arrested Tuesday, Aug. 18, on multiple sex-crime charges, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said.

Ponder, 60, is a former bank robber and three-time felon who received a presidential pardon from Donald Trump in August 2020. Metro said he was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on one count of sexual assault, seven counts of unauthorized custodial contact, one count of attempted coercion that was sexually motivated, and 11 gross misdemeanor charges. Detectives asked anyone who believes they may have been a victim, or who has information, to call 702-828-3251, or Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555.

KTNV reported that an arrest report alleges Ponder used his contractual relationship with the Nevada Department of Corrections and his position to sexually abuse female inmates who were affiliated with or participating in the Hope for Prisoners program. The Review-Journal later reported authorities alleged assaults involving inmates at Jean Conservation Camp and Casa Grande Transitional Housing. News 3 reported the Nevada Department of Corrections said Ponder had been prohibited from entering any NDOC facility starting April 23.

On Thursday, Aug. 20, Ponder appeared in Las Vegas Justice Court. KTNV reported a judge set bail at $200,000 and, if released, required high-level electronic monitoring, no contact with victims and surrender of his passport. His next appearance is set for Aug. 25. Defense attorney David Chesnoff told KTNV after the hearing that “Jon and the organization have helped thousands of people” and that some people he had helped came to court unsolicited.

The Hope for Prisoners board of directors said in a statement provided to KTNV that it was “shocked and deeply concerned” by the charges, called them “entirely inconsistent with the core values of the organization,” and placed Ponder on administrative leave effective immediately, saying daily operations would continue. The Review-Journal later reported that Ponder posted the $200,000 bail.