Maine criminal charge
Sexual abuse of minors in Maine
Sexual abuse of minors is a criminal offense under Maine law, defined by 17-A M.R.S. § 254. 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. § 254.
What is the penalty for sexual abuse of minors in Maine?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 364 days (Sexual act with 14 or 15 year old, actor at least 5 years older — The actor engages in a sexual act with a non-spouse who is 14 or 15 years old and the actor is at least 5 years older than that person.; 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 (Sexual act with 14 or 15 year old, actor at least 5 years older — The actor engages in a sexual act with a non-spouse who is 14 or 15 years old and the actor is at least 5 years older than that person.; 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 5 years (Sexual act with 14 or 15 year old relative within 2nd degree of consanguinity — The actor violates paragraph A and knows the other person is related to the actor within the 2nd degree of consanguinity.; 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 (Sexual act with 14 or 15 year old relative within 2nd degree of consanguinity — The actor violates paragraph A and knows the other person is related to the actor within the 2nd degree of consanguinity.; 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 (Sexual act with 14 or 15 year old, actor at least 10 years older — The actor violates paragraph A and is at least 10 years older than the other person.; 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 (Sexual act with 14 or 15 year old, actor at least 10 years older — The actor violates paragraph A and is at least 10 years older than the other person.; 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 6 months (School employee sexual act with 16 or 17 year old student — An actor at least 21 years old who is a teacher, employee, or official engages in a sexual act with a non-spouse 16 or 17 year old student enrolled in the same school district or institution where the actor works.; 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 (School employee sexual act with 16 or 17 year old student — An actor at least 21 years old who is a teacher, employee, or official engages in a sexual act with a non-spouse 16 or 17 year old student enrolled in the same school district or institution where the actor works.; 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 364 days (School employee sexual act with student relative within 2nd degree of consanguinity — The actor violates paragraph C and knows the student is related to the actor within the 2nd degree of consanguinity.; 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 (School employee sexual act with student relative within 2nd degree of consanguinity — The actor violates paragraph C and knows the student is related to the actor within the 2nd degree of consanguinity.; 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 364 days (School employee sexual act with student, actor at least 10 years older — The actor violates paragraph C and is at least 10 years older than the student.; 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 (School employee sexual act with student, actor at least 10 years older — The actor violates paragraph C and is at least 10 years older than the student.; 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 |
Applies to current (PL 2019, c. 113 recodification).
How is sexual abuse of minors classified in Maine?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sexual act with 14 or 15 year old, actor at least 5 years older | Class D Crime | The actor engages in a sexual act with a non-spouse who is 14 or 15 years old and the actor is at least 5 years older than that person. | 17-A M.R.S. § 254(1)(A) |
| Sexual act with 14 or 15 year old relative within 2nd degree of consanguinity | Class C Crime | The actor violates paragraph A and knows the other person is related to the actor within the 2nd degree of consanguinity. | 17-A M.R.S. § 254(1)(A-1) |
| Sexual act with 14 or 15 year old, actor at least 10 years older | Class C Crime | The actor violates paragraph A and is at least 10 years older than the other person. | 17-A M.R.S. § 254(1)(A-2) |
| School employee sexual act with 16 or 17 year old student | Class E Crime | An actor at least 21 years old who is a teacher, employee, or official engages in a sexual act with a non-spouse 16 or 17 year old student enrolled in the same school district or institution where the actor works. | 17-A M.R.S. § 254(1)(C) |
| School employee sexual act with student relative within 2nd degree of consanguinity | Class D Crime | The actor violates paragraph C and knows the student is related to the actor within the 2nd degree of consanguinity. | 17-A M.R.S. § 254(1)(D) |
| School employee sexual act with student, actor at least 10 years older | Class D Crime | The actor violates paragraph C and is at least 10 years older than the student. | 17-A M.R.S. § 254(1)(E) |
Common questions about sexual abuse of minors in Maine
What class of crime is sexual abuse of minors in Maine?
It depends on the circumstances: sexual abuse of minors ranges from a Class E Crime to a Class C Crime in Maine under 17-A M.R.S. § 254.
Sexual act with 14 or 15 year old, actor at least 5 years older: Class D Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 254(1)(A)) · Sexual act with 14 or 15 year old relative within 2nd degree of consanguinity: Class C Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 254(1)(A-1)) · Sexual act with 14 or 15 year old, actor at least 10 years older: Class C Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 254(1)(A-2)) · School employee sexual act with 16 or 17 year old student: Class E Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 254(1)(C)) · School employee sexual act with student relative within 2nd degree of consanguinity: Class D Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 254(1)(D)) · School employee sexual act with student, actor at least 10 years older: Class D Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 254(1)(E))
What are the penalties for sexual abuse of minors in Maine?
Penalties for sexual abuse of minors 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 sexual abuse of minors?
Sexual abuse of minors is governed by 17-A M.R.S. § 254 (Sexual abuse of minors).
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.