Orange County authorities are escalating a criminal crackdown on illegal electric motorcycle use, filing charges against five additional parents accused of allowing their children to operate high-powered vehicles that have led to severe injuries and high-speed police pursuits. The move, announced Wednesday by District Attorney Todd Spitzer, signals a shift in law enforcement strategy as officials struggle to curb a 430% surge in e-vehicle-related injuries among minors across Southern California.
The charges come just days after the parents of 13-year-old Benson Nguyen were charged following his death in a fatal May crash. Prosecutors say the latest filings target parents who ignored police warnings or provided their children with vehicles that far exceed the legal limits for electric bicycles, which are restricted to 750-watt motors.
Among those charged is Maria Dolores Roehling, who faces one felony count of child endangerment and an infraction for allowing a minor to drive without a license. Her 9-year-old son was hit by a pickup truck while operating an e-motorcycle capable of speeds exceeding 47 mph. Prosecutors noted that the child’s social media presence documented a history of reckless behavior, including wheelies on residential streets and a previous crash just weeks before the collision. If convicted, Roehling faces a maximum of six years in state prison.
Another father, Alex Li of Yorba Linda, was charged with misdemeanor child endangerment after his 11-year-old son suffered broken bones and an aortic bleed in a collision with a pickup truck. Investigators determined the child was riding a 1,200-watt e-motorcycle, nearly double the legal limit for an e-bicycle. Li faces up to one year in jail.
District Attorney Spitzer defended the decision to prosecute, describing the vehicles as “deadly weapons” when placed in the hands of children. He noted that while he prefers not to prosecute parents, the repeated failure of some families to enforce safety rules has left his office with no other choice to prevent further fatalities.
“Kids are getting seriously injured and killed, and I refuse to allow another child to be hurt or killed because I didn’t do everything I could to send a message that these vehicles are not child’s play,” Spitzer said. “If you’re going to hand the keys to a deadly weapon to your child, then be prepared to face the consequences of your actions.”
The crackdown also highlights cases where parents allegedly ignored explicit police warnings. Dan Rezmives was charged with misdemeanor child endangerment and contributing to the delinquency of a minor after his 12-year-old son was spotted riding a Surron Light Bee e-motorcycle on public streets. Prosecutors say a police officer had previously warned Rezmives that such use was illegal, yet the father reportedly identified the vehicle as a Christmas gift for the boy.
In Newport Beach, parents Hulin Guo and Xianomin Wang face two misdemeanors and an infraction related to their 17-year-old son’s repeated run-ins with the law. Prosecutors allege the teenager led police on a pursuit in May, reaching speeds of 40 mph while weaving through pedestrians on sidewalks and driving the wrong way on city streets. The family had a documented history with authorities; in September 2023, the teen was found hiding in bushes after ignoring commands to stop reckless riding, and on Halloween, an officer had to tackle him off the bike for performing wheelies in a crowd of trick-or-treaters. Despite having the e-motorcycles impounded twice, the parents allegedly continued to allow the behavior.
Authorities also filed charges against an adult brother of a 15-year-old who led La Palma police on a pursuit that ended in a crash after the teen ran multiple red lights at 40 mph.
Health officials in Orange County report that e-bike and e-motorcycle injuries have become the primary cause of pediatric emergency room visits in the region. Unlike standard e-bicycles, e-motorcycles require valid DMV registration, license plates, insurance, and a motorcycle-endorsed driver’s license for operation on public roads. They remain legal only on private property or designated off-road areas when operated by unlicensed minors.
