MARTINEZ, Calif. (BRAIN) — Prosecutors in California have charged a mother and father with child abuse after their child crashed into a vehicle in Walnut Creek on their e-moto and was seriously injured. Also this weekend, police in Long Beach arrested one operators and seized five e-motos after responding to what they said was a group of 50 riding illegal e-motos recklessly.
The Contra Costa District Attorney's Office said the juvenile operator was unlicensed and have charged parents Steven Leroy Crews and Jeanna Marie Gabellini of Benicia on one count of child abuse, a misdemeanor. Prosecutors said the parents "willfully and unlawfully permitted a child to be injured or placed in a situation where the child's health is endangered."
The crash occured on Sept. 18, 2025. The prosecutors say the minor crashed his Surron Light Bee e-moto into a minivan. The minor suffered severe injuries that required emergency care at a local hospital, while the driver of the minivan was uninjured and stayed at the scene.
Prosecutors say that not only did the parents allow their child to operate the e-moto "in an unsafe manner and at unsafe speeds prior to the crash," he was allowed to repeatedly ride the e-moto over a several month period despite "repeated citations and warnings from law enforcement."
District Attorney Diana Becton said, "E-bikes and e-motos are more prevalent on city streets. Now that California has new laws on the books to address public safety offenses related to e-bikes and e-motos, parents must understand the dangers these vehicles can pose to children if operated unlawfully and without proper driver education."
At an arraignment on Friday, the couple pleaded not guilty and were released on their own recognizance. A pretrial conference was scheduled for June 4.
Long Beach arrests
Meanwhile on Friday in Long Beach, police made one arrest and cited five other operators for vehicle code violations related to a group riding illegal e-motos in the city.
Police said on Friday afternoon they learned of a group of about 50 "riding illegal e-motos, illegal pocket bikes, and e-bikes recklessly throughout the city."
Two department divisions and an Air Support Unit responded. The department said they arrested a 17 year old male for reckless driving, cited five for vehicle code violations and towed five illegal e-motos and one illegal "pocket bike."
“Traffic safety remains a priority for the Long Beach Police Department, and we are committed to supporting this collaborative work in our city. Anyone who chooses to participate in reckless, illegal driving on our streets should be aware that we will continue to cite, arrest, and seize vehicles of those involved. I want to commend our police officers for once again using available resources to keep us all safe,” Long Beach Chief of Police Wally Hebeish said.
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Photo courtesy Long Beach PD.
