San Francisco 49ers owner arrested in Ohio

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio ( WKBN ) — John “Jed” York, the principal owner and CEO of the San Francisco 49ers , was arrested in Ohio over the weekend.

York pleaded no contest Monday to misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and possessing criminal tools. He was arrested Sunday at a mobile home park in East Palestine, located near the Pennsylvania border.

According to an affidavit, York responded to an ad on a known prostitution website that, unbeknownst to him, was posted by an agent with a human trafficking task force. The document alleges that York arranged to have sexual activity with a woman in exchange for $140.

When he arrived at the agreed upon location, York was taken into custody.

York was originally charged with engaging in prostitution, but prosecutors amended that to disorderly conduct. The “criminal tool” referred to in the second charge was the cell phone used to facilitate the other offense, a prosecutor told Nexstar’s WKBN.

York, who graduated from the local high school, Cardinal Mooney, posted a $5,000 bond, according to authorities.

Details of the case are limited, but an East Palestine Police report obtained by WKBN shows officers assisted the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force in arresting York on Sunday.

Court records show York was sentenced to two days in the Columbiana County Jail, served concurrently, with credit for a day served. He was also ordered to pay $1,150 in fines. Authorities seized $160, which was to be forfeited to the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force as part of the agreement, documents showed. A cell phone was returned to York.

Columbiana County Prosecutor Vito Abruzzino said cases like this typically end in plea agreements.

“Each case is looked at individually and for specific facts of the conduct, what evidence the police provide, and input from the arresting officer,” he said in an email to the Associated Pres. “You also have to factor in criminal history of the defendant, and whether or not they have committed these types of offenses in the past, and importantly, what the judges will allow.”

York has filed an expungement request to have the incident removed from his records, according to court records.

The Ohio native became team president of the 49ers back in 2008, taking over day-to-day control of the team from his parents.

“We are aware of the matter, which will be reviewed under the personal conduct policy,” the NFL told Nexstar’s WKBN.

The 49ers said, “As this was a legal matter, which has been resolved, we will not be providing any further comment at this time.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.