NFL suspends 49ers owner Jed York six games, fines $500,000 after Ohio prostitution sting arrest

The NFL suspended San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York for six games on Friday and imposed a $500,000 fine after his arrest in an August prostitution sting at a mobile home park in Ohio. York pleaded no contest to charges arising from that arrest.

In August York was arrested in a mobile home park by the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force after police said he attempted to pay $160 for sex with a woman he believed to be a prostitute. He was booked into jail and released after posting a $5,000 bond.

Prosecutors initially charged York with engaging in prostitution but later amended the count to disorderly conduct. York pleaded no contest to the amended disorderly conduct charge and to possessing criminal tools for using his phone to respond to an undercover online prostitution advertisement.

A judge sentenced York to one day in jail for both offenses to be served concurrently, and he was credited with one day served when he entered his no-contest plea. He was also fined $1,150. Police seized the $160 from York and that amount was later given to the human trafficking taskforce as part of the plea, and York completed an online course.

The NFL said York violated the league’s personal conduct policy. York has not attended any games or league meetings so far this season and was credited with three games served.

He is eligible to return on 20 October, following the team’s game the previous night against Washington. York also owns stakes in the Premier League’s Leeds United and Scotland’s Rangers through 49ers Enterprises.