A Southern California father is facing felony charges after his 12-year-old son was critically injured while riding a modified electric motorbike, a case that prosecutors say highlights the growing legal consequences for parents when children ride high-powered electric two-wheelers illegally.
According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, 39-year-old Yorba Linda resident Richard John Eyssallenne has been charged with felony child endangerment and abuse as well as misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor after the crash that severely injured his son. If convicted, he could face up to six years in state prison.
The incident occurred on last summer, when the 12-year-old boy ran a red light while riding a Talaria XXX electric motorbike and was struck by a driver in a sedan. The collision left the boy with serious injuries including a skull fracture, intracranial bleeding, a fractured femur, and a broken wrist.
Investigators claimed that they later determined that the bike had been modified in ways that removed it from the legal definition of an e-bike and instead classified it as a motor-driven cycle or motorcycle. The investigators stated that the Talaria had its pedals replaced with motorcycle pegs and the factory speed limiter was bypassed, allowing the machine’s 5,000-watt motor to potentially reach speeds of up to 60 mph (96 km/h). However, it should be noted that the Talaria XXX actually ships standard with motorcycle foot pegs, and a rarely used pedal kit accessory is offered as an optional add-on designed to help pass it off as a bicycle, despite the motorbike falling well outside the legal framework for electric bicycles in California.
Under California law, vehicles with these characteristics, including the high power and speed levels, require a motorcycle license, registration, insurance, and other equipment to operate legally on public roads. Riders must also be at least 16 years old.
Authorities say the boy had already been cited once before for illegally riding the electric motorcycle, and the family had even been forced to attend a local e-bike safety seminar earlier in 2025 after the vehicle was impounded during a previous incident.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said the case reflects growing concern about children operating powerful electric motorcycles on public streets.
“E-motorcycles are not child’s play,” Spitzer said in a statement, adding that parents who knowingly allow illegal riding or help modify vehicles to increase their performance could face criminal consequences.
The case also comes amid a broader rise in enforcement actions and policy debates surrounding youth riders on high-powered electric bikes and “e-motos.” Across parts of California and other states, law enforcement agencies have increasingly warned parents that they may be held responsible if their children operate illegal or heavily modified electric two-wheelers.
While electric bicycles in Class 1 and Class 2 categories often have no age restrictions in many states, vehicles that exceed 750 watts, lack functional pedals, or reach higher speeds usually fall into motorcycle classifications that require licensing and registration.
As electric mobility devices become more powerful and widely available, cases like this suggest authorities are beginning to focus not only on the riders themselves but also on the adults responsible for putting those machines in their hands.
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