Police report alleges Ponder preyed on women in custody

Police records released Wednesday alleged that Jon Ponder, the CEO of Hope for Prisoners, used his relationship with the Nevada Department of Corrections and his position of authority to sexually prey on female inmates seeking rehabilitation.

The Metropolitan Police Department arrested Ponder, 60, on Tuesday, following an investigation launched in April after the Office of the Inspector General received allegations of sexual abuse against inmates at the Jean Conservation Camp and Casa Grande Transitional Housing.

Ponder faces a total of nine felonies and 11 gross misdemeanors, including suspicion of unauthorized contact with a prisoner by a prison employee or volunteer, attempted coercion and attempted unauthorized contact with a prisoner.

“It is evident this investigation has revealed repeat and consistent similarities disclosing a calculated intention to groom and perpetrate on vulnerable women who lack the ability to consent or have a reasonable expectation of fear if they do not engage in his sexual acts,” the arrest report states.

“Ponder intentionally chooses women he knows and believes have limited opportunities due to their convictions and custody status within NDOC,” the report said. “He often uses personal information he gains through his position and specifically targets single mothers who are looking to maintain or regain custody of their children.”

Ponder, a former bank robber and three-time felon, received a pardon from President Donald Trump in 2020.

According to the report, a police investigation showed that Ponder had developed a reputation among inmates, officers and employees for inappropriate sexual conduct and had been the subject of a workplace investigation in 2020 for reported sexual misconduct.

Kristina Wilderveld, an attorney who helped Ponder obtain his state and federal pardons and once served on Hope for Prisoners’ board, wrote a letter in September 2020 raising concerns about potential wrongdoing.

In interviews with Metro investigators, several victims detailed a pattern of how Ponder would use his position to get closer to inmates and make inappropriate remarks before attempting to sexually abuse them, according to the report.

Corrections officers interviewed as part of the investigation noticed Ponder paid special attention to a specific group of inmates, using those inmates to help him during services and writing parole letters for them, while disregarding everyone else. One officer even stated that Ponder stopped coming to Jean Conservation Camp after a certain inmate left, the report said.

Others noted that Ponder received special treatment in not having to follow the same protocols as other volunteers, according to the report.

Multiple former Hope for Prisoners employees had noticed inappropriate conduct and had even tried to report Ponder, the report said.

Detectives said the investigation also revealed that Ponder made calculated efforts to determine who knew about his alleged crimes and then attempted to shield them, according to the report.

Police alleged that Ponder used Rose Cleverley, the human resources director at Hope for Prisoners, to conduct personal investigations of allegations brought forward by victims or witnesses to his alleged crimes. He also tried to influence knowledge of his conduct by advocating for a third-party investigator, with whom he had a personal relationship, to conduct a review, according to the report. It said investigators learned that at Ponder’s direction, the organization terminated employees with knowledge or suspicion of his conduct.

According to the report, former employee Jody McGinness said she was fired for “gossiping,” after Cleverley asked her about what was being said among staff members.

“She further stated she believes she was fired for ‘not playing the game,’” the report stated. “Investigators asked McGinness what she meant by that, and she stated ‘because I didn’t agree with or support’ the behavior of Ponder.”