Maine criminal charge
Offenses in Maine
Current through 2026 Maine legislative session
Offenses is a criminal offense under Maine law, defined by 15 M.R.S. § 710. 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. § 710.
What is the penalty for offenses in Maine?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Interception of oral or wire communications — A person other than an authorized carrier employee, law enforcement officer, investigative officer, or authorized Department of Corrections/jail personnel intentionally or knowingly intercepts, attempts to intercept, or procures another to intercept any wire or oral communication.; 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 (Interception of oral or wire communications — A person other than an authorized carrier employee, law enforcement officer, investigative officer, or authorized Department of Corrections/jail personnel intentionally or knowingly intercepts, attempts to intercept, or procures another to intercept any wire or oral communication.; 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 (Editing of tape recordings in judicial proceedings — A person knowingly or intentionally edits, alters, or tampers with a recording, or knows of such tampering, and presents it in a judicial or sworn proceeding without disclosing the changes made.; 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 (Editing of tape recordings in judicial proceedings — A person knowingly or intentionally edits, alters, or tampers with a recording, or knows of such tampering, and presents it in a judicial or sworn proceeding without disclosing the changes made.; 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 (Disclosure or use of wire or oral communications — A person intentionally or knowingly discloses or uses (or attempts to disclose or use) the contents of a wire or oral communication knowing it was obtained through unlawful interception.; 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 (Disclosure or use of wire or oral communications — A person intentionally or knowingly discloses or uses (or attempts to disclose or use) the contents of a wire or oral communication knowing it was obtained through unlawful interception.; 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 (Possession of interception devices — A person other than an authorized carrier employee, law enforcement officer, investigative officer, or authorized Department of Corrections/jail personnel possesses a device designed or commonly used to intercept wire or oral communications.; 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 (Possession of interception devices — A person other than an authorized carrier employee, law enforcement officer, investigative officer, or authorized Department of Corrections/jail personnel possesses a device designed or commonly used to intercept wire or oral communications.; 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 10 years (Sale or transfer of interception devices — A person sells, exchanges, delivers, barters, gives, furnishes, or possesses with intent to sell a device designed or commonly used for intercepting wire or oral communications, unless manufactured under a qualifying prior contract for sale to carriers, law enforcement, or Corrections.; 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 (Sale or transfer of interception devices — A person sells, exchanges, delivers, barters, gives, furnishes, or possesses with intent to sell a device designed or commonly used for intercepting wire or oral communications, unless manufactured under a qualifying prior contract for sale to carriers, law enforcement, or Corrections.; 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 |
Applies to current (PL 2019, c. 113 recodification).
How is offenses classified in Maine?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interception of oral or wire communications | Class C Crime | A person other than an authorized carrier employee, law enforcement officer, investigative officer, or authorized Department of Corrections/jail personnel intentionally or knowingly intercepts, attempts to intercept, or procures another to intercept any wire or oral communication. | 15 M.R.S. § 710(1) |
| Editing of tape recordings in judicial proceedings | Class C Crime | A person knowingly or intentionally edits, alters, or tampers with a recording, or knows of such tampering, and presents it in a judicial or sworn proceeding without disclosing the changes made. | 15 M.R.S. § 710(2) |
| Disclosure or use of wire or oral communications | Class C Crime | A person intentionally or knowingly discloses or uses (or attempts to disclose or use) the contents of a wire or oral communication knowing it was obtained through unlawful interception. | 15 M.R.S. § 710(3) |
| Possession of interception devices | Class C Crime | A person other than an authorized carrier employee, law enforcement officer, investigative officer, or authorized Department of Corrections/jail personnel possesses a device designed or commonly used to intercept wire or oral communications. | 15 M.R.S. § 710(5) |
| Sale or transfer of interception devices | Class B Crime | A person sells, exchanges, delivers, barters, gives, furnishes, or possesses with intent to sell a device designed or commonly used for intercepting wire or oral communications, unless manufactured under a qualifying prior contract for sale to carriers, law enforcement, or Corrections. | 15 M.R.S. § 710(6) |
Common questions about offenses in Maine
What class of crime is offenses in Maine?
It depends on the circumstances: offenses ranges from a Class C Crime to a Class B Crime in Maine under 15 M.R.S. § 710.
Interception of oral or wire communications: Class C Crime (15 M.R.S. § 710(1)) · Editing of tape recordings in judicial proceedings: Class C Crime (15 M.R.S. § 710(2)) · Disclosure or use of wire or oral communications: Class C Crime (15 M.R.S. § 710(3)) · Possession of interception devices: Class C Crime (15 M.R.S. § 710(5)) · Sale or transfer of interception devices: Class B Crime (15 M.R.S. § 710(6))
What are the penalties for offenses in Maine?
Penalties for offenses in Maine depend on how it is classified — from a Class C Crime up to a Class B 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 offenses?
Offenses is governed by 15 M.R.S. § 710 (Offenses).
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.