South Carolina Pastor and Wife
Charged With Having Child Porn
Grady Bernard Ponds |
Rhonda Ponds |
By Jack Kuenzie
July 29, 2010
A
The
case against Rev. Grady Ponds and his wife, Rhonda Jean Ponds, began with a
search of the couple's home in
The state attorney general's office says that search turned up at least one
computer containing images of child pornography. This week, the Ponds were
booked in
Each has been charged with one count of third degree sexual exploitation of a
minor.
The charges are a touchy subject for members of the
Rev. Ponds was home Friday afternoon, but no one responded when we knocked on
both front and rear doors. "He's very popular, and of course he's very
upset," said Swerling. "But I think that
the community is supporting him, the
The couple has four children. A spokesman for the
In a statement to the Orangeburg Times & Democrat, Rev. Ponds said he and
his wife are "innocent of the things we are alleged to have done." Ponds says he and his wife consider themselves "assets
in the community and hope that folks still feel the same."
A conviction on the charge could lead to a prison sentence of up to 10 years.