San Francisco 49ers principal owner Jed York was initially charged with engaging in prostitution after his arrest in Ohio on Sunday before prosecutors moved to reduce that charge Monday, according to court records reviewed by Heavy.
UPDATED, 11:45 a.m. EST.
The Columbiana County Municipal Court records fill in a major piece that was missing from the first reports about York’s arrest.
York was originally charged under Ohio Revised Code 2907.231 with engaging in prostitution, a first-degree misdemeanor. A second charge accused him of possessing criminal tools under 2923.24, also a first-degree misdemeanor.
At York’s Monday morning arraignment, prosecutors moved to amend the prostitution charge to disorderly conduct, a fourth-degree misdemeanor under 2917.11.
The judge granted it.
York then pleaded no contest to disorderly conduct and possessing criminal tools. The court found him guilty on both counts.
WKBN first reported Monday morning that York had been arrested Sunday in East Palestine and resolved the case the following day.
Court Records Show How Jed York’s Case Was Resolved
The case moved fast.
York posted $5,000 bond after his August 23 arrest and was ordered released ahead of an August 24 appearance in Columbiana County Municipal Court, according to a warrant to discharge the prisoner reviewed by Heavy.
His arraignment was set for 8:30 a.m. Monday.
The court’s judgment entry shows York appeared with an attorney. He entered no-contest pleas after the prosecution’s motion to amend the original prostitution charge was granted.
York was sentenced to one day in the Columbiana County Jail on each count, with the sentences running concurrently. He received credit for one day already served, meaning there was no additional jail time left to serve under the judgment.
The financial piece is a little clearer in the actual records, too.
York received a $150 fine on the disorderly-conduct count and a $1,000 fine for possessing criminal tools.
A court receipt shows he paid $1,285 total at 8:47 a.m. Monday. That included the $1,150 in criminal fines, $105 in court costs, a $25 bond surcharge and a $5 warrant-to-discharge fee.
The balance on the case was listed at zero.
York’s Phone Returned, $160 Forfeited to Task Force
There are a couple more details in the judgment entry.
The court ordered York’s cellular device returned to him.
It also ordered that $160 seized from York be forfeited to the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force, with the judgment stating that was done “by agreement of the parties.”
The records reviewed by Heavy do not explain what role the phone or $160 allegedly played in the case.
A handwritten note on the judgment entry also says that, according to York’s counsel, the defendant completed an online class on August 24.
The document does not identify the class or explain whether completing it was part of the plea agreement.
Heavy has requested the underlying East Palestine Police records in an effort to obtain more detail about the circumstances of York’s arrest.
The court file includes a probable-cause checklist indicating that an underlying complaint or affidavit contained factual allegations supporting the charges. The checklist itself, however, does not include those allegations.
So there is still an important unanswered question: what police say happened before York was arrested.
NFL Could Have Separate Decision on Jed York
The matter also may not end with the Ohio court case.
York remains the 49ers’ principal owner, even after Al Guido was promoted to CEO earlier this year. The team said in February that Guido, president of football operations/general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan all report directly to York.
The NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy applies to owners as well as players, coaches and other league personnel. The league policy says a criminal conviction or other disposition can subject a person to discipline.
There has been no public announcement that York is facing NFL discipline in connection with the case.
But that becomes the next football question now.
The criminal case itself is already marked closed. And thanks to the court record, there is a much clearer picture of how York got there: an initial prostitution charge, a reduction to disorderly conduct, two no-contest pleas and a resolution completed less than a day after the arrest.
Jed York Arrested: 49ers Owner Had Prostitution Charge Reduced in Ohio Case