Maine criminal charge
Failure to appear; penalty in Maine
Failure to appear; penalty is a criminal offense under Maine law, defined by 15 M.R.S. § 1091. 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 15 M.R.S. § 1091.
What is the penalty for failure to appear; penalty in Maine?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 6 months (Failure to appear (underlying crime punishable by less than 1 year) — Applies when the underlying crime for which the defendant was on bail was punishable by a maximum period of imprisonment of less than one year.; 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 (Failure to appear (underlying crime punishable by less than 1 year) — Applies when the underlying crime for which the defendant was on bail was punishable by a maximum period of imprisonment of less than one year.; 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 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Failure to appear (underlying crime punishable by 1 year or more) — Applies when the underlying crime for which the defendant was on bail was punishable by a maximum period of imprisonment of one year or more.; 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 (Failure to appear (underlying crime punishable by 1 year or more) — Applies when the underlying crime for which the defendant was on bail was punishable by a maximum period of imprisonment of one year or more.; 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 |
Applies to current (PL 2019, c. 113 recodification).
How is failure to appear; penalty classified in Maine?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Failure to appear (underlying crime punishable by less than 1 year) | Class E Crime | Applies when the underlying crime for which the defendant was on bail was punishable by a maximum period of imprisonment of less than one year. | 15 M.R.S. § 1091(1)(A) |
| Failure to appear (underlying crime punishable by 1 year or more) | Class C Crime | Applies when the underlying crime for which the defendant was on bail was punishable by a maximum period of imprisonment of one year or more. | 15 M.R.S. § 1091(1)(B) |
Common questions about failure to appear; penalty in Maine
What class of crime is failure to appear; penalty in Maine?
It depends on the circumstances: failure to appear; penalty ranges from a Class E Crime to a Class C Crime in Maine under 15 M.R.S. § 1091.
Failure to appear (underlying crime punishable by less than 1 year): Class E Crime (15 M.R.S. § 1091(1)(A)) · Failure to appear (underlying crime punishable by 1 year or more): Class C Crime (15 M.R.S. § 1091(1)(B))
What are the penalties for failure to appear; penalty in Maine?
Penalties for failure to appear; penalty in Maine depend on how it is classified — from a Class E 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 failure to appear; penalty?
Failure to appear; penalty is governed by 15 M.R.S. § 1091 (Failure to appear; penalty).
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.