MLB umpire Brian O’Nora was arrested as part of a sex sting operation in Ohio last weekend.
If you’re getting ready to read this story, you may want to sit down. This one’s a unique combination of bizarre, appalling, and disturbing.
Brian O’Nora, an active MLB umpire, was arrested as part of a sex sting operation in Ohio over the weekend. TMZ first reported the story on Monday morning following an announcement from Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s office.
The 57-year-old O’Nora is a seasoned league umpire. He’s been employed by the MLB since 2000 and has officiated nine different divisional series, the 2008 ALCS, the 2012 World Series, and three All-Star games.
According to the reports, O’Nora was one of 14 “Johns” who went online seeking to illegally purchase sexual acts before getting arrested by the Liberty Township Police Department.
Fourteen men were arrested during a single-day #HumanTrafficking operation that targeted individuals seeking to buy sex via the internet, AG Yost and Liberty Township Police Chief Toby Meloro announced today. pic.twitter.com/r1QSXwyDBZ
— Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost (@OhioAG) December 7, 2020
Each of the 14 men was arrested and charged with misdemeanor soliciting and misdemeanor possessing criminal tools.
Attorney General Yost said this of the sting operation.
“John stings deter those seeking to purchase sex – reducing the demand for human trafficking – and serve as a reminder that these crimes are more prevalent and closer to home than you may think.”
It should come as no surprise, but the league declined to comment on the situation at this time. But, let’s be honest. O’Nora’s days as an MLB umpire are certainly numbered.
Hearing this story sparked some of my own personal curiosity. How many other MLB umpires have gotten in trouble with the law?
After some quick internet research it appears that, historically, MLB umpires are rather squeaky clean. The most notable find?
In 1990, the late Bob Engel was arrested for stealing baseball cards from a Target store in Bakersfield, California. Engel would eventually plead no contest after being accused of stealing seven boxes from Target and another 50 packs from Costco in a separate incident.
According to The Big Lead, the total value of the cards was less than $200. Engel, a 35-year MLB veteran umpire, was sentenced to three years of probation and then retired from the league.
O’Nora’s story and crime is definitely a step up from stealing baseball cards.