Respected MLB Umpire Arrested in Ohio Sex-Sting Operation

A longtime MLB umpire was among the 14 men arrested in an Ohio sex-sting operation over the weekend, as relayed by TMZ Sports.

Brian O'Nora was arrested by a human-trafficking task force in Liberty Twp. near Cincinnati after allegedly soliciting a prostitute online. O'Nora has been an MLB umpire since 2000. He has umpired in three All-Star games, as well as the 2012 World Series.

"We are aware of it and we have no comment," a league official told Yahoo Sports.

Per the Ohio Attorney General:

Fourteen men were arrested during a single-day human trafficking operation that targeted individuals seeking to buy sex via the internet, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Liberty Township Police Chief Toby Meloro announced today. The operation, which took place on Sunday, was conducted by the Liberty Township Police Department in cooperation with the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force, a task force under the attorney general’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission.” 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,” Yost said. “Hats off to Chief Meloro and the Liberty Township Police Department on their successful operation.”

O'Nora and the others were all charged with misdemeanor soliciting and misdemeanor possessing criminal tools, per reports.

"As for O'Nora, he went viral back in 2013 when he was hit in the neck by a pitch ... but still made a 'ball four' call despite being in serious pain," TMZ noted.