York’s case was closed at Columbiana County Municipal Court on Monday morning, a day after his arrest at the Wheat Hill Mobile Home Community in East Palestine, Ohio, according to court records.
Prosecutors had initially charged the 49ers chief executive with engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools, both misdemeanors. In the plea deal the prostitution count was amended to disorderly conduct.
The affidavit filed by the East Palestine Police Department said York had responded to an undercover advertisement placed on a “known prostitution website” by an agent with the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force, and “arranged to have sexual activity with the female in exchange for $140”. The $160 in cash seized from him at the scene was directed to that same task force.
He was fined $150 for disorderly conduct and $1,000 for possessing criminal tools. A one-day jail sentence on each count was run concurrently, and with credit for the day already served no further custody was imposed.
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Speaking to Sky Sports, Columbiana County Prosecutor Vito Abruzzino explained how such cases end in amended charges.
“Each case is looked at individually and for specific facts of the conduct, what evidence the police provide, and input from the arresting officer,” Abruzzino said. “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.”
No comment from Ibrox
49ers Enterprises, the sports investment company led by York and Paraag Marathe, sits inside the American consortium that took control of Rangers in 2025. Alongside health insurance entrepreneur Andrew Cavenagh, the group completed the takeover of the Scottish Premiership club, buying a 51 percent controlling stake and pledging £20m of new investment.
Cavenagh serves as chairman at Ibrox and Marathe as vice chairman. York does not hold a seat on the Rangers board.
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Contacted after news of the arrest broke, Rangers “chose not to comment”, Sky Sports News reported. Leeds United, the English club also inside the 49ers Enterprises football portfolio, “declined to comment”.
NFL to review under conduct policy
The 49ers issued a brief statement.
“As this is a legal matter, which has been resolved, we will not be providing any further comment at this time,” a team spokesperson said.
The league office is treating the arrest as an open matter. NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy said the league was “aware of the matter which will be reviewed under the personal conduct policy”. That policy can lead to fines or suspensions for owners as well as players.
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York was released after Monday’s hearing in Columbiana County.
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