Jon Ponder, the founder of the Las Vegas-based nonprofit HOPE for Prisoners, has been arrested and charged with 20 counts of sexually based crimes, Las Vegas Metro police confirmed Tuesday.
Ponder, who previously served time for bank robbery, established HOPE for Prisoners to assist individuals in reintegrating into the workforce and community after incarceration. The organization's website states it helps "men, women and young adults successfully reenter the workforce, their families and our community."
The charges against Ponder include one count of sexual assault, seven counts of unauthorized custodial contact, one count of sexually motivated attempted coercion, and 11 gross misdemeanor charges. Police indicated that there could be additional victims.
In April, the Nevada Current reported that Ponder had been banned from Nevada prisons following an investigation into allegations of inappropriate behavior toward a female inmate. The Inspector General’s office reportedly forwarded its findings to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
Ponder, who spoke at the 2020 Republican National Convention about prisoner rehabilitation, received a presidential pardon from then-President Donald Trump in 2020. Trump had also previously spoken at a HOPE for Prisoners graduation ceremony.
Separately, Ponder's wife has filed for divorce and is seeking primary custody of their children, alleging domestic violence in a filing for a temporary order of protection.