OHIO,—Jed York, 46, owner of the San Francisco 49ers was arrested on Sunday, August 23 in East Palenstine Ohio and pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and possessing criminal tools.
York was released after posting a $5,000 bond. He was sentenced to one day in jail for both offenses to be served concurrently and was credited with one day served when he pleaded no contest Monday morning. He was fined $1,150.
Court records show that York was charged with engaging in prostitution, but prosecutors amended that to disorderly conduct. Records show that York had a cellphone returned to him and that $160 that was seized was to be given to the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force as part of the plea agreement. He also has to complete an online course.
An affidavit states York responded to an ad on a known prostitution website that, unbeknownst to him, was posted by an agent with the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force. The document states that York arranged to have sexual activity with a woman in exchange for $140.
He arrived at a location with the phone he used to arrange the meeting and was taken into custody. The police report lists the time and location of the arrest as 9:35 a.m. at Wheat Hill Mobile Home Community off state Route 170. York filed for divorce in May 2026.
“As this is a legal matter, which has been resolved, we will not be providing any further comment at this time,” the 49ers said in a statement on August 25.
York took over day-to-day control of the 49ers from his parents in 2008. He became the team’s principal owner in 2024. After some initial struggles under York’s leadership, the team has been a consistent contender since hiring coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch in 2017.
The Niners have made the Super Bowl three times under York’s leadership, losing in the 2012 season under coach Jim Harbaugh and the 2019 and 2023 seasons under Shanahan and Lynch.
York oversaw the building of Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The team moved from San Francisco to the new stadium in 2014. The stadium hosted two Super Bowls, a World Cup and a College Football Playoff title game.
On Monday, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy confirmed the league will investigate York for potential discipline.
“We are aware of the matter which will be reviewed under the personal conduct policy,” McCarthy wrote in a statement.
The personal conduct policy explicitly mentions owners as one of several groups who “must refrain from conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in the NFL.”
The 49ers kicks off the season on Thursday, September 10 in Melbourne Australia, against the Los Angeles Rams.
