An Aliso Viejo mother facing felony charges after her son allegedly fatally injured an 81-year-old Vietnam veteran while illegally riding an e-motorcycle in Lake Forest made her first appearance in criminal court on Tuesday, May 12.
Tommi Jo Mejer, 50, during a brief hearing at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach, did not enter a plea to the involuntary manslaughter, child abuse and endangerment and accessory felonies she has been charged with, instead agreeing to continue her arraignment until June 30.
Mejer’s attorneys — Paul S. Meyer and Lolita Kirk — said in a statement handed out to media members after the hearing that it was premature to speak in detail about the allegations the mother is facing.
“Tommi Mejer is anguished over the terrible accident,” the defense attorneys said in the statement. “She sends her deepest condolences and sorrow over this tragedy. This has been tragic for everyone.”
Several family members of Ed Ashman — the pedestrian who suffered what turned out to be fatal injuries when prosecutors allege that Mejer’s son crashed into him while doing wheelies on an e-motorycle — watched the hearing from the courtroom gallery, but declined to speak afterward.
Prosecutors allege that Mejer’s son crashed into Ashman while riding in the roadway at Toledo Way and Ridge Route Drive. Ashman was walking home from El Toro High School, where he worked as a substitute teacher. The 14-year-old allegedly fled the scene of the crash, according to law enforcement, but was identified by witnesses and later taken into custody.
Mejer had previously been warned about the dangers of her son riding the e-motorcycle, prosecutors said, and allegedly lied to law enforcement after the crash, reportedly claiming her family did not own an e-motorcycle or have access to one. District Attorney Todd Spitzer previously said that Mejer had “essentially handed her 14-year-old son a deadly weapon,” adding that “despite multiple warnings of the dangers, (Mejer) continued to let him (her son) illegally ride an e-motorcycle until he finally killed someone.”
The e-motorcycle Mejer’s son was allegedly riding — a 2025 Sutton Ultra Bee — requires a motorcycle license, insurance, license plate and registration in order to be used on a public street, according to prosecutors. Otherwise, the e-motorcycle — which can reach speeds of up to 58 mph and go from 0 to 31 mph in 2.3 seconds — can only be used on private property or off-highway vehicle areas.
Mejer remains out of custody as she awaits trial. If convicted as charged, she faces up to seven years and eight months in state prison.
It isn’t clear if Mejer’s son is facing criminal charges. Local prosecutors say that due to his age, state law prevents them from discussing whether they are pursuing charges against the teen.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office has filed charges against three parents since January for allowing their children to illegally ride e-motorcycles, which are more powerful than e-bikes.
Richard Eyssallenne, a Yorba Linda father, has pleaded not guilty to felony child abuse and endangerment charges after his 12-year-old son was seriously injured when he allegedly ran a red light and was hit by a car while riding an e-motorcycle that had been illegally modified to go up to 50 miles per hours.
Another father, a Westminster resident, is facing lesser misdemeanor child abuse and delinquency charges after his sons were allegedly warned about illegally riding e-motorcycles. No injuries were reported in connection with his case.
Staff Writer Sydney Barragan contributed to this report.