An Orange County mother is facing felony charges after prosecutors said her 14-year-old son critically injured an 81-year-old Vietnam War veteran while illegally riding an electric motorcycle in Lake Forest.
ABC7 reporter Bianca Buono reported that the crash happened last week near El Toro High School, where investigators say the teen was riding a Surron e-motorcycle and “doing wheelies” before striking Ed Ashman, a beloved substitute teacher who was walking home from work.
Ashman remains hospitalized in critical condition.
Now, prosecutors say the teen’s mother, 50-year-old Tommi Jo Mejer, is facing serious consequences because she had already been warned that her son could not legally ride the vehicle.
“She’s looking at over six years in state prison,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer told Buono.
A Veteran And Teacher Critically Hurt
Buono reported that Ashman, 81, is fighting for his life after the crash.
Investigators say he was walking home from work when Mejer’s son crashed into him while riding the e-motorcycle outside El Toro High School. Ashman is not only an elderly pedestrian, but also a Vietnam War veteran and substitute teacher, which has made the case even more painful for the community.
Spitzer said prosecutors are hoping Ashman survives and recovers.
“We are praying that this substitute school teacher will have a full recovery, and that the charges don’t change at all,” Spitzer said.
That last part carries a heavy meaning. If Ashman’s condition worsens, the legal situation could become even more serious.
There is something especially upsetting about a case like this because it happened in such an ordinary place. A man walking home from work should not have to face life-threatening injuries from a teen riding a powerful vehicle that prosecutors say should never have been on the road in that manner.
Mother Faces Felony And Misdemeanor Charges
According to Buono’s report, Spitzer said his office charged Mejer with one felony count of child endangerment and one felony count of accessory after the fact to a crime.
She also faces three misdemeanor charges: contributing to the delinquency of a minor, loaning a motor vehicle to an unlicensed driver, and providing false information to a peace officer.
Mejer was arrested Tuesday and later posted bond, but when ABC7 tried to speak with her at her Aliso Viejo home, no one answered the door.
Spitzer made clear that he sees the case as about more than one crash.
“I am going to prosecute parents to the fullest extent of the law,” he said. “As parents, whether you like it or not, we’re responsible for the conduct of our children.”
That statement is strong, and it is meant to be. Prosecutors appear to be drawing a hard line around parents who buy, allow, or help modify powerful e-motorcycles for children who are too young, unlicensed, and untrained to ride them legally.
Prosecutors Say She Had Already Been Warned
One of the most important parts of Buono’s report is that prosecutors say Mejer was not unaware of the problem.
Investigators said sheriff’s deputies warned her in June of last year about letting her son illegally ride the e-motorcycle.
According to the report, Mejer had called the sheriff’s department to complain that a neighbor was posting pictures of her son riding the e-motorcycle and saying he was out of control. Deputies then spent nearly 30 minutes explaining to her that her son could not legally ride it, and that she could face criminal charges if she continued to allow him to do so.
Spitzer said the warning was captured on body-worn camera.
“We have her on body-worn camera talking about and understanding the dangers and the illegality of this particular vehicle,” Spitzer said.
That alleged warning changes the shape of the case. This is not being framed as a parent who made a mistake because she did not understand the law. Prosecutors are saying she knew, was told clearly, and still allowed the behavior to continue.
That is why the charges carry such a different weight.
E-Bikes And E-Motorcycles Are Not The Same
Buono explained that the law treats lower-speed e-bikes differently from faster electric motorcycles.
E-bikes manufactured to stay under 20 mph have no age or licensing restrictions, according to the report. But if a vehicle has been modified or can reach higher speeds, it may be considered a motorcycle, meaning it requires a motorcycle license, insurance, and registration.
Spitzer said the model involved in this crash could reach far higher speeds.
“It could go up to 60 mph with that particular model, and it could go from like 35 mph in two to three seconds,” he said.
That kind of speed is the key issue. A vehicle that can accelerate that quickly is not just a bicycle with a battery. It behaves more like a motorcycle, and the danger rises fast when the rider is a child with no license, no training, and no real understanding of traffic rules.
This is where many families may be confused. The word “e-bike” can sound harmless, almost like a toy or a safer version of a dirt bike. But some of these machines are powerful enough to cause catastrophic injuries, especially when used on public streets or near pedestrians.
Spitzer Says Parents Must Be Held Accountable
Spitzer told Buono that he hopes the case sends a message not only to parents, but also to prosecutors elsewhere.
“Either they’re going to hate me for doing this, saying, ‘Why the heck would you go after a parent when this is just their kids’ activity?’ Or they’re gonna say, ‘We better really research and thoroughly understand the kinds of motor vehicles we’re providing to our kids,’” Spitzer said.
He added that prosecutors sometimes have to bring “test cases” to show other prosecutors around the country what direction enforcement should take.
In a press release quoted in the report, Spitzer went even further, saying parents who buy children e-motorcycles and let them ride illegally, or help modify e-bikes into e-motorcycles, are “handing their children a loaded weapon.”
“That is not a threat,” Spitzer said. “That is a promise.”
The language is harsh, but the point is easy to understand. Prosecutors are arguing that when a parent puts a fast, illegal vehicle into a child’s hands, the parent cannot later act shocked when someone gets hurt.
That does not erase the role of the teen rider, but the district attorney said his office cannot comment on any possible juvenile charges.
Third Parent Charged This Year
Buono reported that Mejer is the third parent in Orange County this year alone to be charged with illegally allowing a child to ride an e-motorcycle.
That detail suggests prosecutors are not treating this as a one-off tragedy. They see a pattern.
Electric motorcycles and modified e-bikes have become more common in many communities, especially among teens. Some are ridden near schools, parks, sidewalks, and busy roads. For parents, they may seem like fun transportation. For prosecutors, police, and injured victims, they can become a serious public safety problem.
There is also a difficult parenting question underneath all of this.
Plenty of parents want to give their kids freedom, fun, and independence. But there is a clear difference between giving a teen a bicycle and giving them a machine that can reach nearly highway speeds without the training or legal permission to use it.
That difference can become life-altering in seconds.
A Case Meant To Send A Warning
At the center of this case is Ed Ashman, who remains in critical condition after being hit while walking home from work.
Spitzer pointed to Ashman’s service in Vietnam and said he survived flying combat missions, only to be left clinging to life because a child was allegedly allowed to ride a vehicle that should not have been on the road.
The district attorney said there is “absolutely no reason” an unlicensed, untrained child should be riding a motorcycle capable of reaching nearly 60 mph next to cars on a public street.
Buono also reported that a GoFundMe has been set up to help support Ashman during his recovery.
The legal case against Mejer will now move forward, but the larger message is already clear. Prosecutors are warning parents that they may be held responsible when they knowingly allow children to ride illegal high-speed e-motorcycles.
For families, the takeaway is simple and serious: know what your child is riding, know what the law says, and do not assume that anything with an electric motor is just a harmless bike.
In this case, prosecutors say a mother had already been warned. Now, a beloved 81-year-old veteran and substitute teacher is in the hospital, and she is facing the possibility of years in prison.
Raised in a small Arizona town, Kevin grew up surrounded by rugged desert landscapes and a family of hunters. His background in competitive shooting and firearms training has made him an authority on self-defense and gun safety. A certified firearms instructor, Kevin teaches others how to properly handle and maintain their weapons, whether for hunting, home defense, or survival situations. His writing focuses on responsible gun ownership, marksmanship, and the role of firearms in personal preparedness.
