Maine criminal charge
Criminal conspiracy in Maine
Criminal conspiracy is a criminal offense under Maine law, defined by 17-A M.R.S. § 151. 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. § 151.
What is the penalty for criminal conspiracy in Maine?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 30 years (Conspiracy to commit murder — The most serious crime that is the object of the conspiracy 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 (Conspiracy to commit murder — The most serious crime that is the object of the conspiracy 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 (Conspiracy where object is a Class A crime — The most serious crime that is the object of the conspiracy 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 (Conspiracy where object is a Class A crime — The most serious crime that is the object of the conspiracy 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 (Conspiracy where object is a Class B crime — The most serious crime that is the object of the conspiracy 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 (Conspiracy where object is a Class B crime — The most serious crime that is the object of the conspiracy 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 (Conspiracy where object is a Class C crime — The most serious crime that is the object of the conspiracy 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 (Conspiracy where object is a Class C crime — The most serious crime that is the object of the conspiracy 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 (Conspiracy where object is a Class D or E crime — The most serious crime that is the object of the conspiracy is a Class D or 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 (Conspiracy where object is a Class D or E crime — The most serious crime that is the object of the conspiracy is a Class D or 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 conspiracy classified in Maine?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conspiracy to commit murder | Class A Crime | The most serious crime that is the object of the conspiracy is murder. | 17-A M.R.S. § 151(1)(A) |
| Conspiracy where object is a Class A crime | Class B Crime | The most serious crime that is the object of the conspiracy is a Class A crime. | 17-A M.R.S. § 151(1)(B) |
| Conspiracy where object is a Class B crime | Class C Crime | The most serious crime that is the object of the conspiracy is a Class B crime. | 17-A M.R.S. § 151(1)(C) |
| Conspiracy where object is a Class C crime | Class D Crime | The most serious crime that is the object of the conspiracy is a Class C crime. | 17-A M.R.S. § 151(1)(D) |
| Conspiracy where object is a Class D or E crime | Class E Crime | The most serious crime that is the object of the conspiracy is a Class D or Class E crime. | 17-A M.R.S. § 151(1)(E) |
Common questions about criminal conspiracy in Maine
What class of crime is criminal conspiracy in Maine?
It depends on the circumstances: criminal conspiracy ranges from a Class E Crime to a Class A Crime in Maine under 17-A M.R.S. § 151.
Conspiracy to commit murder: Class A Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 151(1)(A)) · Conspiracy where object is a Class A crime: Class B Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 151(1)(B)) · Conspiracy where object is a Class B crime: Class C Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 151(1)(C)) · Conspiracy where object is a Class C crime: Class D Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 151(1)(D)) · Conspiracy where object is a Class D or E crime: Class E Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 151(1)(E))
What are the penalties for criminal conspiracy in Maine?
Penalties for criminal conspiracy 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 conspiracy?
Criminal conspiracy is governed by 17-A M.R.S. § 151 (Criminal conspiracy).
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.