Founder of nonprofit that helps prisoners charged with 20 sexually based crimes

The ex-con founder of an organization that helps inmates has been charged with a slew of sex crimes following an investigation into allegations he was inappropriate with female prisoners.Jon Ponder, a three-time convicted felon, runs HOPE for Prisoners in Las Vegas — which he conceived as a way to help fellow convicts while serving time for bank robbery.The organization helps “men, women and young adults successfully reenter the workforce, their families and our community,” its website says.Ponder was arrested Tuesday and charged with 20 counts of sexually based crimes,” Las Vegas Metro police said.They were one count of sexual assault, seven counts of unauthorized custodial contact, one count of sexually motivated attempted coercion and 11 gross misdemeanor charges.Officials did not elaborate on the allegations sparking the charges.However, Ponder was earlier banned from going to any Nevada prisons after being accused of being investigated for acting inappropriately toward a female inmate, the Nevada Current reported in April.The Inspector General’s office investigated the allegations and passed their findings along to the LVMPD, the report said..Ponder’s wife, Jamie Ponder, has since filed for divorce and is seeking primary custody of the couple’s children, and has filed for a temporary order of protection alleging domestic violence.Ponder, who spoke at the Republican National Convention in 2020 as a prison rehabilitation expert, was pardoned that same year by President Trump, who has even spoken at HOPE for Prisoners’ “graduation” ceremony....