49ers chief Jed York given two-day sentence after Ohio prostitution investigation

Jed York, the principal owner of the San Francisco 49ers and co-owner of Leeds United and Rangers, has been ordered to serve two days in jail and fined $1,150 after a prostitution-related case in Ohio.

York was arrested in East Palestine, Ohio, after responding to a fake prostitution advertisement placed online by police as part of a sting operation. According to official documents, he arranged to meet a woman in exchange for $140.

Police had infiltrated the website and posted fabricated advertisements before intercepting York as he travelled to the agreed meeting location. Officers found the mobile phone used to arrange the alleged meeting in his possession.

The original allegation was solicitation of prostitution. However, under an agreement with prosecutors, the charges were reclassified as disorderly conduct and possession of criminal tools.

York pleaded not guilty to both charges. Documents from Columbiana County also stated that $160 was seized from him and transferred to the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force, in line with the agreement.

The records added that York completed an online training course, although they did not identify the nature of the programme.

The National Football League said it was aware of the case and would review the matter under its personal conduct policy.

The San Francisco 49ers said the legal proceedings had been resolved and that, because the matter was now a legal issue that had been concluded, the organisation would not comment further at this stage.

York’s two-day jail sentence and $1,150 fine bring the legal process to an end after a sequence of proceedings that began with his arrest in Ohio.

He is one of the most prominent figures in American sport. York became chief executive of the San Francisco 49ers in 2010 and also holds a stake in Leeds United and Rangers.

His personal wealth is estimated at about $500m, while his family’s wealth is put at approximately $8.5bn. The York family has long been associated with the ownership of the San Francisco 49ers, who compete in the National Football League.

The case does not concern York’s position as a co-owner of Leeds United or Rangers, but the NFL’s statement means his conduct will be considered under the league’s established rules governing the personal behaviour of club personnel and executives.