49ers Owner Jed York Pleads No Contest After Arrest at Ohio Trailer Park
San Francisco 49ers owner and CEO Jed York pleaded no contest to two criminal charges on August 24, 2026, one day after his arrest at a trailer park in East Palestine, Ohio. York was sentenced to one day in jail for each count — served concurrently — and was released Monday morning, August 24, according to The Guardian. He was also fined $1,150 and ordered to complete an online course.
York, 46, was arrested on the morning of Sunday, August 23, 2026. The East Palestine Police Department and the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force carried out the arrest. York was initially booked on suspicion of engaging in prostitution, but that count was amended to a charge of disorderly conduct. He was also charged with possessing criminal tools — a category that can cover items used in the commission of a crime.
East Palestine sits about a 30-minute drive from Youngstown, Ohio, where York was born and raised. He still maintains a home in the area. York is the nephew of Edward J. DeBartolo Jr., the former 49ers majority owner who built the franchise into a dynasty in the 1980s and 1990s.
York took day-to-day control of the 49ers in 2008 when he became CEO, and he became the team's principal owner in 2024 after acquiring his mother's shares. Under his leadership, the 49ers have reached three Super Bowls, falling short each time. Beyond the NFL, York holds stakes in Leeds United of the Premier League and Rangers of the Scottish Premiership through 49ers Enterprises, the investment arm of the franchise.
A "no contest" plea means York accepts punishment for the charges without formally admitting guilt. The legal resolution came quickly — arrested Sunday, sentenced and released Monday.
The NFL's personal conduct policy gives the league broad authority to investigate and discipline owners, coaches, and players for off-field conduct, regardless of criminal outcomes. Whether the league office opens a review under that policy is a question that now sits with Commissioner Roger Goodell. The 49ers organization has not yet publicly commented on the arrest or the plea.
