Police: Wynne man accused of rape resists arrest

Wynne, Arkansas — A Wynne man is being held on a $150,000 bond after Jonesboro police say he assaulted and raped a woman.

Officers arrested Mark Ponder, 21, on Saturday after a woman reported he choked and punched her several times then raped her.

When officers asked him to step outside and put his hand behind his back, he resisted. Officers then forced him to the ground before taking him into custody, according to the initial incident report.

In addition to the rape charge, police accused Ponder of battering, aggravated assault, and resisting arrest.

According to online court records, Ponder is awaiting trial in Crittenden County on a July 2020 rape case. The defendant in the case told police that Ponder hit her and pinned her to his bed before engaging in nonconsensual sexual intercourse.

He was scheduled to go on trial in February, but it was delayed until April.