Hope for Prisoner’s CEO has hearing delayed; attorney wants bail lowered

The CEO of Hope for Prisoners appeared in court Monday following his indictment on charges including sexual assault, but a hearing where he was expected to enter a formal plea was delayed.

His attorney also wants a judge to lower Ponder’s bail, increased to $1 million last week, and reinstate the previous amount, $200,000.

Jon Ponder, 60, was indicted last week on counts including sexual assault, first-degree kidnapping, sexual abuse of a prisoner by an employee or volunteer and open or gross lewdness.

Ponder, a former bank robber, was pardoned by President Donald Trump in 2020. His organization gained popularity with Clark County law enforcement and judges as a way to rehabilitate those convicted of crimes. Ponder has been placed on leave, but his organization did not respond to inquiries about his employment status in recent days.

He appeared before District Judge Kathleen Delaney in Clark County Detention Center custody.

Authorities have accused him of sexually abusing prisoners at Casa Grande Transitional Housing and Jean Conservation Camp.

Ponder had previously faced charges in Las Vegas Justice Court, but the indictment last week added allegations that he sexually assaulted additional victims.

There are now seven alleged victims, including four whom prosecutors say Ponder sexually assaulted.

Defense attorney Robert Draskovich has said Ponder maintains his innocence.

Before the Monday hearing was called, attorneys left the courtroom to confer with the judge. Ponder sat with other inmates and looked through a pile of papers.

Delaney said that based on her discussion with lawyers, it would be necessary to delay the hearing.

Judicial departments in Clark County are numbered and specific departments in Justice Court, where most criminal cases begin, track to specific District Court departments.

Draskovich said after court that prosecutors want the case to be assigned based on Ponder’s initial Justice Court department, a request defense attorneys oppose.

Ponder’s case repeatedly switched departments in Justice Court because of conflicts with some of the judges, according to court records.

“My understanding is it should have gone to Judge (Ron) Israel or Judge (Bita) Yeager as a result of that,” Chief Deputy District Attorney John Giordani said at a grand jury return last week. “If that is incorrect, I’ll just defer to the court as to where it should actually track. We just want to make sure we end up in the right place.”

Kierny noted then that the case of self-proclaimed “gorilla pimp” attorney Gary Guymon last year tracked from the reassigned Justice Court department. She kept Ponder’s case with Delaney.