The 49ers owner just spent a day in jail on the eve of their Australian visit. This is why

Less than three weeks out from his team’s historic NFL match at the MCG , San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York was arrested in Ohio and pleaded no contest to misdemeanour charges of disorderly conduct and possessing criminal tools.

Court records show that York was initially charged with engaging in prostitution, but prosecutors amended that to disorderly conduct. York was charged with possessing criminal tools for using his phone to respond to an undercover online prostitution advertisement, according to prosecutors.

The 46-year-old businessman’s family is worth an estimated $8.5 billion ($11.89 billion), and he is personally estimated to be worth about $500 million ($697 million).

The 49ers will play a historic season opener against the Los Angeles Rams on September 11 at the MCG as part of a multi-year deal for Victoria, with at least two confirmed NFL games at the venue across four years, with the possibility of a third.

The team, which finished second in the NFC West division in the 2025-26 season, will only have a short stay in Melbourne, arriving the day before the match on September 10.

York was arrested Sunday morning at a mobile home community in East Palestine, Ohio, near where he was born and raised in Youngstown. He was released after posting a US$5000 ($6990) bond.

He was sentenced to one day in jail for both offences to be served concurrently and was credited with one day served when he pleaded no contest Monday morning. He was also fined US $1150 ($1600).

Records also show that York had his cellphone returned to him and that $160 ($223) that was seized was to be given to the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force as part of the plea agreement. York also completed on online course.

Columbiana County Prosecutor Vito Abruzzino said most of these prostitution cases typically end in plea agreements.

“Each case is looked at individually and for specific facts of the conduct, what evidence the police provide, and input from the arresting officer,” he said in an email.

“You also have to factor in criminal history of the defendant, and whether or not they have committed these types of offences in the past, and importantly, what the judges will allow.”

The NFL issued a statement saying the league was aware of the arrest and would review it under the personal conduct policy. Owners are subject to possible fines or suspensions for violating the personal conduct policy.

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft was investigated but not punished by the league after he was arrested in Florida in 2019 for allegedly paying for sex with a woman at a massage parlour. The charge was later dropped after a court ruled that police violated the rights of Kraft and the other customers when they secretly installed video cameras inside massage rooms at the spa.

“As this is a legal matter, which has been resolved, we will not be providing any further comment at this time,” the team said in a statement.