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Maine criminal charge

Criminal simulation in Maine

Current through 2026 Maine legislative session

Criminal simulation is a criminal offense under Maine law, defined by 17-A M.R.S. § 705. 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. § 705.

What is the penalty for criminal simulation in Maine?

Penalties for Criminal simulation
PenaltyRangeBasisAuthority
Jail / prisonup to 6 months (Simulating property age/rarity/quality/composition/source/authorship — With intent to defraud, a person makes or alters property to falsely appear to have certain age, rarity, quality, composition, source or authorship, or knowingly transfers or possesses such simulated property with intent to defraud.; statutory default maximum (17-A M.R.S. §1604(1)(E)); individual statutes may specify a different maximum)discretionary17-A M.R.S. § 1604
Fineup to $1,000 (Simulating property age/rarity/quality/composition/source/authorship — With intent to defraud, a person makes or alters property to falsely appear to have certain age, rarity, quality, composition, source or authorship, or knowingly transfers or possesses such simulated property with intent to defraud.; maximum for an individual (17-A M.R.S. §1704(5)); organizations up to $10,000 (§1705); statute-specific fines may differ)discretionary17-A M.R.S. § 1604
Jail / prisonup to 6 months (False animal pedigree — A person knowingly makes, gives or exhibits a false written pedigree of any animal.; statutory default maximum (17-A M.R.S. §1604(1)(E)); individual statutes may specify a different maximum)discretionary17-A M.R.S. § 1604
Fineup to $1,000 (False animal pedigree — A person knowingly makes, gives or exhibits a false written pedigree of any animal.; maximum for an individual (17-A M.R.S. §1704(5)); organizations up to $10,000 (§1705); statute-specific fines may differ)discretionary17-A M.R.S. § 1604

Applies to current (PL 2019, c. 113 recodification).

How is criminal simulation classified in Maine?

The classification depends on the circumstances:

Classification variants for Criminal simulation
VariantClassificationWhen it appliesStatute
Simulating property age/rarity/quality/composition/source/authorshipClass E CrimeWith intent to defraud, a person makes or alters property to falsely appear to have certain age, rarity, quality, composition, source or authorship, or knowingly transfers or possesses such simulated property with intent to defraud.17-A M.R.S. § 705(1)(A)
False animal pedigreeClass E CrimeA person knowingly makes, gives or exhibits a false written pedigree of any animal.17-A M.R.S. § 705(1)(C)

Common questions about criminal simulation in Maine

What class of crime is criminal simulation in Maine?

Criminal simulation is a Class E Crime in Maine under 17-A M.R.S. § 705.

Simulating property age/rarity/quality/composition/source/authorship: Class E Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 705(1)(A)) · False animal pedigree: Class E Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 705(1)(C))

What are the penalties for criminal simulation in Maine?

Penalties for criminal simulation in Maine depend on how it is classified — from a Class E Crime up to a Class E 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 simulation?

Criminal simulation is governed by 17-A M.R.S. § 705 (Criminal simulation).

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.