Nevada Reentry Nonprofit CEO Arrested for Sexual Assault
by Michael Dean Thompson
Jon Ponder, founder and CEO of the nonprofit Hope for Prisoners (HFP), was himself a former felon who served time for three bank robberies. He has since been pardoned by both the state of Nevada and President Donald Trump (R) in 2020. When a former board member of HFP resigned that same year, their resignation letter expressed frustration at the lack of action after an internal investigation found evidence of maleficence.
The board member wrote that the nonprofit “may benefit from portraying Jon as a reformed bank robber, who did his time, found Jesus and devoted his life to others, but someday someone will probe into the rest of his criminal history and recent actions and conclude that the organization is in troubled hands.”
On August 18, 2026, Ponder was arrested. The 20 criminal charges he faces include sexual assault, unauthorized contact with prisoners, and open and gross lewdness. During his arrest, police said they also found 1.3 grams of methamphetamines on him as well as paraphernalia.
Over the years, Ponder’s role in HFP allowed him to enjoy substantial privileges. His arrest report says he was able to use separate entrances into prisons, such as a side gate, which would allow him to bypass ID checks. He was also seen bringing cellphones into the facilities, which was against regulations.
One Nevada Department of Corrections (DOC) guard told police that she had been instructed to allow Ponder “to do whatever he wanted to do” and “bring in whatever he wanted to bring in.” Staff apparently told her, “Ponder runs this place.” No other volunteer was given those kinds of privileges according to the guard.
The most egregious claims are that he used his position and privilege to manipulate and assault women. The arrest report includes accusations of Ponder sexually assaulting women during a baptism as well as in his office. One woman told police she had stopped attending church but was pressured back when Ponder said “things were going to get bad for everyone” if she did not attend. He is also said to have whispered sexually inappropriate comments and made advances to one woman who was experiencing the trauma of being separated from her four children. She accepted the advances, willing to do anything to see her kids, and believes doing so allowed her to participate in an event that reunited her with them.
The former board member who resigned in 2020, Kristina Wildeveld, is an attorney who had previously assisted Ponder with both his pardon requests. The board of HFP at the time included Clark County’s undersheriff Kevin McMahill, who is now sheriff, and Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson. Wildeveld wrote in the letter that “fundraising and promotion has been placed ahead of the original mission” to serve the reentry population. Rather, that was “replaced or overshadowed” with the goal of making Ponder a celebrity.
Despite the nature of the accusations, some ties hold tight. The Nevada Current has issued Nevada Open Records Act requests about the issue, which have repeatedly been denied. Governor Joe Lombardo (R), who was sheriff of Clark County in 2020 and received an award from HFP in 2025 as “Champion of Hope” has expanded the program in Nevada prisons. DA Wolfson has remained close to Ponder and included him in campaign ads. Together, he and Ponder partnered to create Hope for Second Chances.
Neither Lombardo, Wolfson, or former Assistant Sheriff Todd Fasulo, who was president of the board in 2020, have commented to the Nevada Current on the accusations. Each of these men would seem to share culpability on any future convictions that may arise from events which they could have prevented after the 2020 internal HFP investigation.
Sources: Nevada Current
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