A Southern California woman faces an additional charge of involuntary manslaughter after her 14-year-old son struck and killed an 81-year-old man while riding an e-motorcycle, prosecutors announced Friday.
Tommi Jo Mejer, of Aliso Viejo in Orange County, was already charged with felony child endangerment. The new charge follows the death of Ed Ashman, a former US Marine Corps captain and substitute teacher, who was walking home from work in Lake Forest on April 16 when Mejer's son hit him while doing wheelies on a Surron e-motorcycle.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said Mejer provided her son with a deadly weapon despite multiple warnings. In June 2025, Mejer called the sheriff's department to complain about photos of her son riding recklessly, and deputies warned her she could face charges. She admitted buying the vehicle and knowing he drove it dangerously.
The boy's e-motorcycle, a 2025 Surron Ultra Bee, can reach 56 mph, exceeding the legal limit for e-bikes. Under California law, e-motorcycles require riders to be at least 16 and have a motorcycle license. After the crash, Mejer falsely told deputies neither she nor her son owned such a vehicle.
Mejer also faces charges of felony accessory after the fact, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and providing false information. If convicted on all counts, she could face up to seven years and eight months in prison. Prosecutors declined to discuss potential charges against the juvenile.
This case is part of a growing trend of parental prosecutions for children's illegal e-motorcycle use. Orange County has filed child endangerment charges against three parents this year. Legal experts note that applying criminal liability to parents in such cases is a new and evolving area of law.
