Niners owner York arrested, pleads no contest

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  Nick WagonerAug 24, 2026, 11:56 AM ET

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  Nick Wagoner is an NFL reporter at ESPN. Nick has covered the San Francisco 49ers since 2016, having previously covered the St. Louis Rams for 12 years, including three years (2013 to 2015) at ESPN. In over a decade with the company, Nick has led ESPN's coverage of the Niners' 2019 and 2023 Super Bowl run, Colin Kaepernick's protest, the Rams making Michael Sam the first openly gay player drafted to the NFL, Sam's subsequent pursuit of a roster spot and the team's relocation and stadium saga.

San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York pleaded no contest to a pair of misdemeanor charges Monday after being arrested in Ohio on suspicion of engaging in prostitution.

According to Columbiana (Ohio) court records, East Palatine Police arrested York on Sunday with a charge description of "engaging in prostitution." That charge was amended to misdemeanor disorderly conduct after York pleaded no contest to that and an additional misdemeanor charge for possessing criminal tools.

The court records say the local prosecutor filed the plea deal Monday morning as York pleaded no contest and paid $1,150 in fines ($150 for the disorderly conduct charge and $1,000 for the criminal tools charge).

York also was sentenced to one day in jail for each charge, with one day already considered to be served.

York has been the majority owner of the Niners since 2024 but has been the team's chief executive officer since 2008. He is originally from Youngstown, Ohio.