The mother of a 14-year-old Orange County boy who allegedly struck and killed an 81-year-old man while riding an e-motorcycle appeared in court for the first time Tuesday to face criminal charges stemming from the fatal crash.
Prosecutors allege Tommy Joe Major’s son attacked the Vietnam War veteran on April 16 after the teen was spotted doing wheelies in the middle of the road. Charges were filed against a 50-year-old Aliso Viejo mother after prosecutors allege she was warned before the fatal crash that her son was driving an electric motorcycle recklessly and was not legally allowed to operate it.
On Tuesday, Meijer appeared with her attorneys for a brief hearing at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach. However, the arraignment hearing was postponed to June 30, according to court records.
Major’s lawyers declined to comment directly on the case, but issued a brief statement on behalf of their client.
Lawyer Paul S. “Tommy Major is heartbroken by the tragic accident that occurred,” the statement from the mayor and Lolita Kirk said. “She expresses her deepest condolences and sorrow over this tragedy. It is devastating for everyone. It is too early to make any further statements.”
Major has been charged with one felony count of involuntary manslaughter, one felony count of child endangerment, one felony count of accessory after the fact to a crime, one misdemeanor count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, one misdemeanor count of lending a motor vehicle to an unlicensed driver, and one misdemeanor count of providing false information to a peace officer.
Prosecutors said he faces up to seven years and eight months in prison if convicted on all counts.
Prosecutors allege Major’s son was driving a Cerrone e-motorcycle near Toledo Way and Ridge Route Drive in Lake Forest when he struck 81-year-old Ed Ashman. After this the teenager allegedly fled from the spot.
Ashman was taken to hospital and died on April 30.
Orange County Sheriff’s deputies contacted Meijer a few hours after the accident occurred, and she was reportedly captured on camera telling deputies that neither she nor her son owned Cerrone nor did she have access to any.
But prosecutors allege Meijer had talked to deputies months earlier about his son riding an electric motorcycle.
In June 2025, Major allegedly called deputies to complain that someone had posted photos online of her 13-year-old son riding an e-motorcycle. Meijer told deputies at the time that he had purchased the Cerrone motorcycle for his son.
The electric motorcycles, which can reach speeds of up to 58 mph and have a maximum power of 12.5 kilowatts, are not considered e-bikes under California law – meaning riders must have a motorcycle license and register the vehicle through the Department of Motor Vehicles.
The charges against the Orange County District Major were announced in a statement. Atty. Todd Spitzer accused him of “essentially handing his 14-year-old son a deadly weapon.”
“If parents won’t hold their kids accountable, then I will hold parents accountable for hurting and killing innocent people while riding illegal motor vehicles,” Spitzer said in the statement.
