Full Breakdown
Orange County Prosecutors Charge Parents Over Illegal E-Motorcycle Use
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Core Incident: Surge in Child Endangerment Charges
On October 21 2026, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer announced child-endangerment charges against six additional parents, bringing the total to twelve since January. The new filings include:
- Alex Li – misdemeanor after his 11-year-old son collided with a pickup truck in Yorba Linda on June 30, suffering broken bones and an arterial bleed.
- Maria Dolores Roehling – one felony count and an infraction after her 9-year-old was struck while “speeding” on an e-moto capable of more than 47 mph on May 23.
- Dan Rezmives – misdemeanor child endangerment and a contributing-to-delinquency charge after an officer saw his 12-year-old riding a Surron Light Bee on a public street on March 22, despite a prior warning.
- Hulin Guo and Xiaomin Wang – each charged with two misdemeanors and an infraction after their 17-year-old led Newport Beach police on a pursuit on May 9, riding an e-moto at speeds over 40 mph.
- Tuan Nguyen – misdemeanor child endangerment after his 13-year-old led Garden Grove police on a chase on April 8, reaching 40 mph and crashing into a police vehicle.
Earlier high-profile cases include the fatal crash of 13-year-old Benson Nguyen in Garden Grove on May 7, when he was traveling about 43 mph and struck a concrete pole, and a 14-year-old’s crash that killed an 81-year-old veteran in April.
Background & Context
E-motors are two-wheeled, off-highway electric motorcycles that lack pedals. California law prohibits anyone under 16 from operating an e-moto on public streets; legal street use requires a motorcycle license, registration, plate, insurance, and full motorcycle equipment. The California Highway Patrol distinguishes e-motors from e-bikes, which must have operable pedals and a motor under 750 watts.
Since 2019, injuries involving e-bikes and e-motors have become the leading cause of pediatric emergency-room visits in Orange County. The District Attorney’s office reports a 430 % increase in such injuries across Southern California over the past four years. State traffic data show that children ages 11-14 account for 61.7 % of e-moto crashes, despite the age ban.
Data & Statistics
- 12 parents charged since January 2026.
- 61.7 % of e-moto crashes involve children aged 11-14 (DA office, SWITRS).
- 430 % rise in e-bike/e-moto injuries in Southern California over four years (DA office).
- Injuries are now the No. 1 reason children in Orange County are treated in emergency departments (DA office).
Official Statements & Responses
Spitzer’s office says the prosecutions aim to protect children rather than punish families. The district attorney’s “RIDE SAFELY” unit was created to investigate and pursue charges against both juveniles and adults who knowingly allow illegal e-moto operation. Prosecutors note many charged parents received repeated warnings before the incidents.
On-the-Ground Reports
Witness Eduardo Avalos described the aftermath of Benson Nguyen’s crash, recalling that “we knew the kid. He was always on his bike,” and noting he helped remove the teen’s helmet strap to aid breathing. Similar accounts describe children performing wheelies and stunts on residential streets shortly before collisions.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact count of parents charged: some outlets cite ten, others twelve. All agree the prosecutions are part of a broader effort to curb illegal e-moto use among minors, with the final tally pending court filings.
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The surge in charges reflects a coordinated legal response to a rapidly growing public-safety issue, linking statutory age restrictions, rising injury statistics, and repeated warnings to a pattern of parental accountability for illegal e-motorcycle use.