Parenting Now a Felony?

Judge's gavel on book beside paper stamped felony — Photo: max.ku / Shutterstock

A California prosecutor just made parenting an e-moto kid a legal risk, not just a safety talk.

Story Snapshot

Orange County prosecutors charged a mother after her 14-year-old’s e-moto crash killed an 81-year-old man.
The office says she knew the risks and allowed illegal riding anyway.
The case tests how far California law holds parents to control dangerous youth conduct.
Rising e-bike injuries and faster machines raise the stakes for families.

Prosecutors move after deadly e-moto crash

The Orange County District Attorney charged Tommi Jo Mejer with felony child endangerment and later added felony involuntary manslaughter after the 81-year-old victim, Ed Ashman, died from injuries tied to an April crash in Lake Forest. Prosecutors say Mejer’s 14-year-old son rode an electric motorcycle illegally and struck Ashman while doing risky maneuvers. The office alleges Mejer had been warned before the crash about her son’s illegal riding and failed to stop it. Mejer’s attorneys offered condolences and declined further comment.

Court filings and local reporting describe a fast, powerful e-moto, not a pedal-assist bike, at the center of the crash. That difference matters. California treats higher-powered two-wheelers more like motorcycles when used on public roads, which can trigger registration, licensing, and age limits. Prosecutors also charged Mejer as an accessory after the fact and with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, reflecting claims that her conduct went beyond mere ignorance. She will have her day in court, but the charging theory is clear and direct.

Why parental knowledge and control are the legal hinge

California law does not make parents automatically liable when a child hurts someone. Courts look for two keys: did the parent know the child posed a danger, and did the parent have the chance and ability to control the behavior. Official statements in this case say authorities warned Mejer about illegal and dangerous riding before the crash, which goes to knowledge. Access to the e-moto, permission to ride, and prior incidents all feed the control question. That is why the warnings sit at the heart of the charges.

California jury instructions explain the test in plain terms: a parent has a duty to use reasonable care to control a minor to prevent harm to others when the parent knows or should know of the need and has the ability to act. That tracks long-standing case law that ties duty to a special parent-child relationship and actual capacity to intervene. Prosecutors appear to argue both points here. If a jury agrees, child endangerment and related counts can stick. If either point fails, the charges weaken.

The new machines outrun old assumptions

Families often treat anything with pedals and a battery like a bicycle. That shortcut breaks down with today’s faster gear. Public health guidance in California sets class limits for e-bikes at 20 to 28 miles per hour, with age and helmet rules for teens. Many “e-motos” sold to kids can blow past those limits. Some resemble light motorcycles and can hit far higher speeds. When a youth rides such a machine on public streets, different laws can apply, and risk rises fast.

Orange County (California) District Attorney doesn’t want to prosecute parents for allowing their children to illegally ride E-Motos, but he is.

Actions have consequences, District Attorney Spitzer told CBS’ Evening News’ Natalie Morales in a sit-down interview to explain how… pic.twitter.com/UZJWWC8muw

— OCDA Todd Spitzer (@OCDAToddSpitzer) October 23, 2026

Local officials report a steep rise in youth crashes on electric bikes and scooters as these devices spread, with speed, weight, and traffic mixing poorly for teens. That trend pressures prosecutors and police to respond before more people get hurt. From a common-sense, conservative view, this is not about criminalizing parenting. It is about drawing a bright line when a parent has clear notice of danger and still lets a child break laws on a powerful machine around seniors and families.

What this signals to parents and cities

Parents now face a sharper rule of the road. If a child rides a high-powered e-moto illegally, and the parent knows and can stop it, prosecutors may treat it like handing car keys to an unlicensed teen. Expect more cases that turn on notice, warnings, and access. Cities and schools should push simple steps that cut harm: age-appropriate devices, helmets for all riders under 18 as state law requires, and no passengers unless the machine is built for it. That is not fear; it is prudence.