East Palestine, Ohio, was the setting for the weekend arrest of San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York, who pleaded no contest Monday to misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and possessing criminal tools. The 46-year-old was taken into custody Sunday and later released after posting a $5,000 bond.
Court records show York was initially charged with engaging in prostitution. Prosecutors amended that count to disorderly conduct as part of a plea agreement. He was sentenced to one day in jail for both offenses, to be served concurrently, and was credited with one day already served.
York was fined $1,150 under the agreement. Records show a cellphone was returned to him, while $160 seized during the arrest was directed to the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force. He also completed an online course as part of the terms.
The 49ers and the NFL did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
York took over day-to-day control of the franchise from his parents in 2008 and became the team’s principal owner in 2024. The team struggled early under his direction before becoming a consistent contender after the 2017 hiring of coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch.
Under York’s ownership, the 49ers reached the Super Bowl three times. They lost following the 2012 season under coach Jim Harbaugh, and again after the 2019 and 2023 seasons under Shanahan and Lynch.
York also oversaw the construction of Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, where the team relocated from San Francisco in 2014. The venue has hosted two Super Bowls, a World Cup and a College Football Playoff title game.
NFL owners have periodically drawn scrutiny over off-field conduct, and franchise governance has come under wider examination in recent years, from ownership transfers to minority-stake sales involving outside investors. The no-contest plea closes the immediate legal matter for York.