LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — The CEO of Hope for Prisoners is accused of sexually assaulting inmates during his events and visits at Nevada Department of Corrections facilities for his reentry program for incarcerated offenders.
The arrest report says Jon Ponder, 60, was arrested Tuesday afternoon after a joint investigation. According to Justice Court records, he faces 20 charges, including sexual assault, unauthorized contacts with prisoners, and open and gross lewdness.
An investigation began in April this year after reports surfaced. As the investigation developed, detectives interviewed women who had been incarcerated at Jean Conservation Camp, Hope for Prisoners participants and employees, correctional officers, and other witnesses.
The arrest report details one event from a witness back in September and October of 2023. One woman recalled a Christmas event at Jean Conservation Camp where inmates have the opportunity to be reunited with their children in a controlled environment.
The woman said Ponder told her, “I have a crush on you, is that okay?” She said she went along with the advance because she saw it as “leverage.”
“There is nothing I wouldn’t do to see my children,” she said, according to the arrest report. Detectives noted that the woman has four children, and she became emotional about the trauma of not being able to see them.
The arrest report says she was selected to be a part of the event. She believes this happened because she accepted his advances.
The woman told police Ponder also made advances during church events. She said Ponder would whisper sexually inappropriate things to her, and he also made her write a letter to him.
She said other inmates and correction officers started to notice Ponder’s favoritism toward her, which caused her issues, the arrest report stated.
The arrest report continues with other events accusing Ponder of sexually assaulting victims during a baptism event and in his office. A victim told police that she had stopped attending church, and Ponder pressured her by saying, “things were going to get bad for everyone,” if she did not attend.
In early June, police interviewed a former employee for Hope For Prisoners. She told investigators she had known Ponder since 2010.
She said she worked with Ponder during Tuesday night “huddles” and Sunday night church. She said she noticed Ponder did not follow proper prison protocols for volunteers. The arrest report says he would use separate entrances such as a side gate and bypass ID checks. He would also be able to bring his phone into the facility even though it was against regulations.
She told police that, under proper regulations, she is not allowed to enter prisons due to a previous conviction, but Ponder was able to get her cleared. She told police staff said,” Ponder runs this place.”
In another interview with an NDOC correctional officer, she said she was told to allow Ponder “to do whatever he wanted to do” and “bring in whatever he wanted to bring in.” She told police Ponder’s treatment was different from any other volunteer contracted through NDOC.
A second Hope For Prisoners employee spoke to police. He said he worked with Ponder in March of 2025, but he was fired. According to the arrest report, he said he was terminated “as a result of cooperating with the internal investigations conducted at HFP.”
The arrest report states Ponder was aware of an investigation and told a victim not to cooperate with any parties.
During the investigation, the arrest report says police gathered active and late-night communications between Ponder and the victims. It consisted of hundreds of calls and messages.
Police said they obtained 1.3 grams of meth and paraphernalia at Ponder’s home.
He is expected to appear in court Thursday morning for his initial appearance.
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