Maine criminal charge
Acquiring drugs by deception in Maine
Acquiring drugs by deception is a criminal offense under Maine law, defined by 17-A M.R.S. § 1108. Its classification is not fixed: Maine assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by 17-A M.R.S. § 1108.
What is the penalty for acquiring drugs by deception in Maine?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Acquiring schedule W drug by deception — The drug obtained or controlled by deception is a schedule W drug.; statutory default maximum (17-A M.R.S. §1604(1)(C)); individual statutes may specify a different maximum, and mandatory minimums apply to certain crimes (§1604(3))) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (Acquiring schedule W drug by deception — The drug obtained or controlled by deception is a schedule W drug.; maximum for an individual (17-A M.R.S. §1704(3)); organizations up to $20,000 (§1705); statute-specific and alternative fines may exceed (§1706)) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Acquiring schedule X drug by deception — The drug obtained or controlled by deception is a schedule X drug.; statutory default maximum (17-A M.R.S. §1604(1)(C)); individual statutes may specify a different maximum, and mandatory minimums apply to certain crimes (§1604(3))) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (Acquiring schedule X drug by deception — The drug obtained or controlled by deception is a schedule X drug.; maximum for an individual (17-A M.R.S. §1704(3)); organizations up to $20,000 (§1705); statute-specific and alternative fines may exceed (§1706)) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Acquiring schedule Y drug by deception — The drug obtained or controlled by deception is a schedule Y drug.; statutory default maximum (17-A M.R.S. §1604(1)(C)); individual statutes may specify a different maximum, and mandatory minimums apply to certain crimes (§1604(3))) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (Acquiring schedule Y drug by deception — The drug obtained or controlled by deception is a schedule Y drug.; maximum for an individual (17-A M.R.S. §1704(3)); organizations up to $20,000 (§1705); statute-specific and alternative fines may exceed (§1706)) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Jail / prison | up to 364 days (Acquiring schedule Z drug by deception — The drug obtained or controlled by deception is a schedule Z drug.; the statutory maximum is 'less than one year' (17-A M.R.S. §1604(1)(D)); individual statutes may specify a different maximum) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Fine | up to $2,000 (Acquiring schedule Z drug by deception — The drug obtained or controlled by deception is a schedule Z drug.; maximum for an individual (17-A M.R.S. §1704(4)); organizations up to $10,000 (§1705); statute-specific fines may differ) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
Applies to current (PL 2019, c. 113 recodification).
How is acquiring drugs by deception classified in Maine?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acquiring schedule W drug by deception | Class C Crime | The drug obtained or controlled by deception is a schedule W drug. | 17-A M.R.S. § 1108(1)(A) |
| Acquiring schedule X drug by deception | Class C Crime | The drug obtained or controlled by deception is a schedule X drug. | 17-A M.R.S. § 1108(1)(B) |
| Acquiring schedule Y drug by deception | Class C Crime | The drug obtained or controlled by deception is a schedule Y drug. | 17-A M.R.S. § 1108(1)(C) |
| Acquiring schedule Z drug by deception | Class D Crime | The drug obtained or controlled by deception is a schedule Z drug. | 17-A M.R.S. § 1108(1)(D) |
Common questions about acquiring drugs by deception in Maine
What class of crime is acquiring drugs by deception in Maine?
It depends on the circumstances: acquiring drugs by deception ranges from a Class D Crime to a Class C Crime in Maine under 17-A M.R.S. § 1108.
Acquiring schedule W drug by deception: Class C Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 1108(1)(A)) · Acquiring schedule X drug by deception: Class C Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 1108(1)(B)) · Acquiring schedule Y drug by deception: Class C Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 1108(1)(C)) · Acquiring schedule Z drug by deception: Class D Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 1108(1)(D))
What are the penalties for acquiring drugs by deception in Maine?
Penalties for acquiring drugs by deception in Maine depend on how it is classified — from a Class D Crime up to a Class C Crime — with the ranges set by 17-A M.R.S. § 1604; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Maine statute covers acquiring drugs by deception?
Acquiring drugs by deception is governed by 17-A M.R.S. § 1108 (Acquiring drugs by deception).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.