EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — John “Jed” York, the principal owner and CEO of the San Francisco 49ers, was arrested over the weekend in a small Ohio town near the Pennsylvania border, according to local authorities.
York, a native of the Youngstown area and a graduate of Cardinal Mooney High School, pleaded no contest on Monday to misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and possessing criminal tools. He was originally booked on a charge of engaging in prostitution, but prosecutors later amended that to disorderly conduct as part of a plea agreement.
The arrest took place on Sunday in East Palestine, with officers from the local police department assisting the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force, according to a police report obtained by Nexstar’s WKBN. The task force is a multi-agency unit focused on combating sex trafficking and related offenses in the region.
York posted a $5,000 bond and appeared in court on Monday, where he entered the no-contest plea. Court records show he was sentenced to two days in the Columbiana County Jail, to be served concurrently, with credit for one day already served. He was also ordered to pay $1,150 in fines, and authorities seized $160, which will be forfeited to the task force as part of the agreement.
York has filed a request to have the incident expunged from his record, according to court documents. The expungement request is pending.
The NFL confirmed it is reviewing the matter under its personal conduct policy. “We are aware of the matter, which will be reviewed under the personal conduct policy,” the league said in a statement to WKBN.
The 49ers organization had not issued a public comment as of Monday morning. York, who became team president in 2008 and later took over as CEO, is a prominent figure in the league and has been involved in various NFL ownership committees.
The arrest comes at a time when the NFL has faced increased scrutiny over player and personnel conduct, and the league’s personal conduct policy has been a focal point in recent years. The policy allows the commissioner to discipline individuals even if they are not charged with a crime, if their behavior is deemed detrimental to the league.
York’s legal team has not responded to requests for comment. The case has drawn attention due to York’s high-profile role in the NFL and his family’s ownership of the 49ers, a franchise with a storied history.
This incident is not the first time an NFL owner has faced legal trouble, but it is rare for an owner to be arrested on charges related to prostitution or human trafficking. The Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force has been active in recent years, conducting stings and raising awareness about trafficking in the region.
York’s expungement request, if granted, would clear his record, but the NFL’s review could still result in disciplinary action. The league has previously punished owners for conduct involving moral turpitude, though such cases are uncommon.
As the story develops, more details are expected to emerge about the circumstances of the arrest and the task force’s operation. For now, York faces a legal process that could have implications for his role with the 49ers and the NFL.
