Partner Marisa Darden Quoted in The Athletic on Case Involving 49ers Owner Jed York

Marisa Darden, Lead of Benesch’s White Collar, Government Investigations & Regulatory Practice Group, was quoted in The Athletic article titled “49ers Owner Jed York Arrested in Ohio, Pleads No Contest to 2 Misdemeanors.” The article examines the arrest and subsequent misdemeanor charges against San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York, as well as the potential legal implications of the charges and how they may be viewed under Ohio law.

Marisa explained that Ohio’s criminal tools statute is a “fairly nebulous, broad statute” that criminalizes possession of an instrument, substance, device, or article designed or adapted for criminal use. She noted that she has “rarely seen it used in situations relating to prostitution” and suggested the charge could have been tied to the use of an electronic device or a response to an online advertisement. However, she added that such an interpretation would be “a little bit of an aggressive charging posture.”

Read the full article here.