49ers owner Jed York pleads no contest to Ohio misdemeanor charges
Jed York, majority owner of the San Francisco 49ers, pleaded no contest to reduced misdemeanor charges in Ohio and was fined after an arrest on a prostitution-related sting.
San Francisco 49ers majority owner Jed York entered a no-contest plea to two misdemeanor charges in Columbiana County, Ohio, on Monday. The charges stem from a Sunday arrest after York responded to an online advertisement and was found at the meeting location with the phone used to arrange the encounter, according to court documents.
The East Palestine Police Department, working with the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force, arrested York at 9:35 a.m. at the Wheat Hill Mobile Home Community. Initially charged with engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools, the prostitution charge was reduced to misdemeanor disorderly conduct as part of a plea agreement.
York’s attorney did not comment, and the 49ers issued a brief statement saying the legal matter has been resolved and no further comment will be provided. The NFL said it is aware of the case and will review it under its personal conduct policy.
Prosecutor Vito Abruzzino confirmed the plea arrangement and noted that the reduced charges are typical for first-time offenders in the area. York paid $1,150 in fines—$150 for disorderly conduct and $1,000 for criminal tools—and was sentenced to one day in jail for each charge, with one day already served.
York, who has been the team’s chief executive officer since 2008 and majority owner since 2024, is a native of Youngstown, Ohio. Under his leadership, the 49ers have appeared in three Super Bowls and moved to Levi’s Stadium in 2014.