A prominent public figure arrested in September in connection with an alleged elaborate real estate fraud operation, tarnishing his reputation and forcing his resignation from a high-profile nonprofit organization, maintains he is innocent of all charges. Despite never holding public office, Jon Blinder is well known in the western Nevada County community, having administered two of its most visible and active local nonprofits. Blinder was intimately involved in the founding of Nevada County’s The Center for the Arts, becoming the president of its board in 2000 and serving in that capacity until late 2011. In February 2012, Blinder was hired …