A California mother made her first court appearance on Tuesday to face charges of involuntary manslaughter after her teenage son killed a Vietnam veteran while riding his e-motorcycle.
Tommi Jo Mejer, 51, did not enter a plea during the brief hearing, but her attorneys said she has been left 'anguished' over the terrible accident.
'She sends her deepest condolences and sorrow over this tragedy,' her attorneys said of the crash that killed 81-year-old Ed Ashman last month, ABC 7 reports.
'This has been devastating for everyone,' the lawyers continued, before arguing 'It is premature to make any other statement.'
Prosecutors have argued Mejer knew that her 14-year-old son should not be in possession of the 2025 Surron Ultra Bee - which can reach speeds of up to 50mph - but had let him continue to ride it.
The teen was then allegedly doing wheelies when he struck Ashman at around 4pm on April 16 as the veteran was walking home from his job as a substitute teacher.
Deputies with the Orange County Sheriff's Office later went to Mejer's home and questioned her about the incident, when she allegedly denied that either she or her son owned an e-bike.
Meanwhile, Ashman was transported to a local hospital in critical condition, where he was pronounced dead on April 30.
Tommi Jo Mejer, 51, a California mother charged with involuntary manslaughter after her teenage son killed a Vietnam veteran while riding his e-motorcycle, made her first court appearance on Tuesday
The teen was then allegedly doing wheelies when he struck 81-year-old Ed Ashman (pictured) at around 4pm on April 16 as the veteran was walking home from his job as a substitute teacher
Mejer was arrested on April 21 and initially faced felony counts of child endangerment and accessory after the fact to a crime.
The Orange County mother was also hit with one misdemeanor count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and an infraction for loaning a motor vehicle to an unlicensed driver, as well as providing false information to a peace officer.
'We have her on body-worn camera talking about and understanding the dangers and the illegality of this particular vehicle,' Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer told ABC 7.
'I'm charging the mother because she provided the motorcycle, she was aware of it, she was warned on a prior occasion that this was a dangerous vehicle that her son could not legally possess and certainly couldn't ride. And irrespective of those admonitions and warnings, she continued to allow him to do so,' Spitzer explained.
Prosecutors have said Mejer previously contacted the Orange County Sheriff's Office last year to accuse someone of posting her son online riding the bike.
Mejer 'admitted that she purchased her son a Surron e-motorcycle and knew that he drove it recklessly,' prompting warnings from deputies that she could face charges herself if she continued to let the teen ride it, the district attorney's office said in a press release.
E-motorcycle riders must be at least 16 years old and possess a motorcycle license and insurance to ride the vehicles on public streets in California.
Without those documents, teenagers can only ride e-motorcycles on private property or off-highway vehicle areas.
Mejer did not enter a plea during the brief hearing on Tuesday
Ashman worked as a substitute teacher and was described as 'center of a beautiful family,' who was a devoted husband, a father of three, and a proud grandfather,' a GoFundMe noted
'An American hero who survived flying combat missions in Vietnam could not survive walking across the street in Lake Forest because of a 14-year-old child who was allowed to ride an e-motorcycle that he should have never been riding,' Spitzer previously said in a statement.
'This mother essentially handed her 14-year-old son a deadly weapon, and despite multiple warnings of the dangers, continued to let him illegally ride an e-motorcycle until he finally killed someone.'
'If parents aren't going to hold their children accountable, then I am going to hold parents accountable for hurting and killing innocent people while riding illegal motor vehicles.'
Mejer is the third parent Spitzer’s office hit with charges this year for allegedly allowing their children to ride e-motorcycles illegally.
She has posted a $100,000 bond and was released from custody ahead of her scheduled arraignment on June 30.
Mejer is the third parent Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer's office hit with charges this year for allegedly allowing their children to ride e-motorcycles illegally
If she is convicted on all counts, Mejer can face seven years and eight months in state prison.
In the meantime, an online fundraiser has been set up to help his family with his funeral costs.
'As a Vietnam veteran, he spent years in the cockpit flying jets for the military and serving our country with honor,' it reads.
'After his time in the service, he brought that same dedication to the classroom. To the students at El Toro High, Mr Ashman is a familiar and friendly face. He is a man who chose to spend his retirement years mentoring and supporting the next generation.'
The fundraiser also said Ashman was 'the center of a beautiful family' as a 'devoted husband, a father of three and a proud grandfather.'
At the time of this report, the fundraiser has raised over $120,000.