Maine criminal charge
Criminal attempt in Maine
Criminal attempt is a criminal offense under Maine law, defined by 17-A M.R.S. § 152. 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. § 152.
What is the penalty for criminal attempt in Maine?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 30 years (Attempted Murder — Applies when the crime attempted is murder.; statutory default maximum (17-A M.R.S. §1604(1)(A)); individual statutes may specify a different maximum, and mandatory minimums apply to certain crimes (e.g. use of a firearm against an individual, §1604(3))) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Fine | up to $50,000 (Attempted Murder — Applies when the crime attempted is murder.; maximum for an individual (17-A M.R.S. §1704(1)); organizations up to $100,000 (§1705); statute-specific and alternative fines may exceed (§1706)) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Jail / prison | up to 10 years (Attempt to commit a Class A crime — Applies when the crime attempted is a Class A crime.; statutory default maximum (17-A M.R.S. §1604(1)(B)); 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 $20,000 (Attempt to commit a Class A crime — Applies when the crime attempted is a Class A crime.; maximum for an individual (17-A M.R.S. §1704(2)); organizations up to $40,000 (§1705); statute-specific and alternative fines may exceed (§1706)) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Attempt to commit a Class B crime — Applies when the crime attempted is a Class B crime.; 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 (Attempt to commit a Class B crime — Applies when the crime attempted is a Class B crime.; 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 (Attempt to commit a Class C crime — Applies when the crime attempted is a Class C crime.; 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 (Attempt to commit a Class C crime — Applies when the crime attempted is a Class C crime.; 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 |
| Jail / prison | up to 6 months (Attempt to commit a Class D or Class E crime — Applies when the crime attempted is a Class D crime or a Class E crime.; statutory default maximum (17-A M.R.S. §1604(1)(E)); individual statutes may specify a different maximum) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Fine | up to $1,000 (Attempt to commit a Class D or Class E crime — Applies when the crime attempted is a Class D crime or a Class E crime.; maximum for an individual (17-A M.R.S. §1704(5)); 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 criminal attempt classified in Maine?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attempted Murder | Class A Crime | Applies when the crime attempted is murder. | 17-A M.R.S. § 152(1)(A) |
| Attempt to commit a Class A crime | Class B Crime | Applies when the crime attempted is a Class A crime. | 17-A M.R.S. § 152(1)(B) |
| Attempt to commit a Class B crime | Class C Crime | Applies when the crime attempted is a Class B crime. | 17-A M.R.S. § 152(1)(C) |
| Attempt to commit a Class C crime | Class D Crime | Applies when the crime attempted is a Class C crime. | 17-A M.R.S. § 152(1)(D) |
| Attempt to commit a Class D or Class E crime | Class E Crime | Applies when the crime attempted is a Class D crime or a Class E crime. | 17-A M.R.S. § 152(1)(E) |
Common questions about criminal attempt in Maine
What class of crime is criminal attempt in Maine?
It depends on the circumstances: criminal attempt ranges from a Class E Crime to a Class A Crime in Maine under 17-A M.R.S. § 152.
Attempted Murder: Class A Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 152(1)(A)) · Attempt to commit a Class A crime: Class B Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 152(1)(B)) · Attempt to commit a Class B crime: Class C Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 152(1)(C)) · Attempt to commit a Class C crime: Class D Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 152(1)(D)) · Attempt to commit a Class D or Class E crime: Class E Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 152(1)(E))
What are the penalties for criminal attempt in Maine?
Penalties for criminal attempt in Maine depend on how it is classified — from a Class E Crime up to a Class A 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 criminal attempt?
Criminal attempt is governed by 17-A M.R.S. § 152 (Criminal attempt).
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.