Maine criminal charge
Sexual exploitation of minor in Maine
Current through 2026 Maine legislative session
Sexual exploitation of minor is a criminal offense under Maine law, defined by 17-A M.R.S. § 282. 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. § 282.
What is the penalty for sexual exploitation of minor in Maine?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 10 years (Employing/using minor under 16 for sexually explicit conduct to be photographed — Person intentionally or knowingly employs, solicits, entices, persuades or uses a person under 16 (not their spouse) to engage in sexually explicit conduct knowing it will be photographed, unless the close-in-age exception applies.; 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 (Employing/using minor under 16 for sexually explicit conduct to be photographed — Person intentionally or knowingly employs, solicits, entices, persuades or uses a person under 16 (not their spouse) to engage in sexually explicit conduct knowing it will be photographed, unless the close-in-age exception applies.; 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 10 years (Compelling/inducing minor by threat to engage in sexually explicit conduct to be photographed — Person compels or induces by threat a minor (not their spouse) to engage in sexually explicit conduct knowing or intending it will be photographed.; 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 (Compelling/inducing minor by threat to engage in sexually explicit conduct to be photographed — Person compels or induces by threat a minor (not their spouse) to engage in sexually explicit conduct knowing or intending it will be photographed.; 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 30 years (Repeat offense under paragraph A or A-1 — Person violates paragraph A or A-1 and has one or more prior convictions under this section or for substantially similar conduct elsewhere.; 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 (Repeat offense under paragraph A or A-1 — Person violates paragraph A or A-1 and has one or more prior convictions under this section or for substantially similar conduct elsewhere.; 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 30 years (Violation of paragraph A or A-1 with victim under 12 — Person violates paragraph A or A-1 and the minor has not in fact attained 12 years of age.; 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 (Violation of paragraph A or A-1 with victim under 12 — Person violates paragraph A or A-1 and the minor has not in fact attained 12 years of age.; 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 (Parent/guardian permitting minor under 16 to engage in sexually explicit conduct to be photographed — A parent, legal guardian, or custodian knowingly or intentionally permits a person under 16 in their care to engage in sexually explicit conduct knowing or intending it will be photographed.; 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 (Parent/guardian permitting minor under 16 to engage in sexually explicit conduct to be photographed — A parent, legal guardian, or custodian knowingly or intentionally permits a person under 16 in their care to engage in sexually explicit conduct knowing or intending it will be photographed.; 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 30 years (Repeat offense under paragraph D — Person violates paragraph D and has one or more prior convictions under this section or for substantially similar conduct elsewhere.; 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 (Repeat offense under paragraph D — Person violates paragraph D and has one or more prior convictions under this section or for substantially similar conduct elsewhere.; 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 30 years (Violation of paragraph D with victim under 12 — Person violates paragraph D and the minor has not in fact attained 12 years of age.; 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 (Violation of paragraph D with victim under 12 — Person violates paragraph D and the minor has not in fact attained 12 years of age.; 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 |
Applies to current (PL 2019, c. 113 recodification).
How is sexual exploitation of minor classified in Maine?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employing/using minor under 16 for sexually explicit conduct to be photographed | Class B Crime | Person intentionally or knowingly employs, solicits, entices, persuades or uses a person under 16 (not their spouse) to engage in sexually explicit conduct knowing it will be photographed, unless the close-in-age exception applies. | 17-A M.R.S. § 282(1)(A) |
| Compelling/inducing minor by threat to engage in sexually explicit conduct to be photographed | Class B Crime | Person compels or induces by threat a minor (not their spouse) to engage in sexually explicit conduct knowing or intending it will be photographed. | 17-A M.R.S. § 282(1)(A-1) |
| Repeat offense under paragraph A or A-1 | Class A Crime | Person violates paragraph A or A-1 and has one or more prior convictions under this section or for substantially similar conduct elsewhere. | 17-A M.R.S. § 282(1)(B) |
| Violation of paragraph A or A-1 with victim under 12 | Class A Crime | Person violates paragraph A or A-1 and the minor has not in fact attained 12 years of age. | 17-A M.R.S. § 282(1)(C) |
| Parent/guardian permitting minor under 16 to engage in sexually explicit conduct to be photographed | Class B Crime | A parent, legal guardian, or custodian knowingly or intentionally permits a person under 16 in their care to engage in sexually explicit conduct knowing or intending it will be photographed. | 17-A M.R.S. § 282(1)(D) |
| Repeat offense under paragraph D | Class A Crime | Person violates paragraph D and has one or more prior convictions under this section or for substantially similar conduct elsewhere. | 17-A M.R.S. § 282(1)(E) |
| Violation of paragraph D with victim under 12 | Class A Crime | Person violates paragraph D and the minor has not in fact attained 12 years of age. | 17-A M.R.S. § 282(1)(F) |
Common questions about sexual exploitation of minor in Maine
What class of crime is sexual exploitation of minor in Maine?
It depends on the circumstances: sexual exploitation of minor ranges from a Class B Crime to a Class A Crime in Maine under 17-A M.R.S. § 282.
Employing/using minor under 16 for sexually explicit conduct to be photographed: Class B Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 282(1)(A)) · Compelling/inducing minor by threat to engage in sexually explicit conduct to be photographed: Class B Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 282(1)(A-1)) · Repeat offense under paragraph A or A-1: Class A Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 282(1)(B)) · Violation of paragraph A or A-1 with victim under 12: Class A Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 282(1)(C)) · Parent/guardian permitting minor under 16 to engage in sexually explicit conduct to be photographed: Class B Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 282(1)(D)) · Repeat offense under paragraph D: Class A Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 282(1)(E)) · Violation of paragraph D with victim under 12: Class A Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 282(1)(F))
What are the penalties for sexual exploitation of minor in Maine?
Penalties for sexual exploitation of minor in Maine depend on how it is classified — from a Class B 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 sexual exploitation of minor?
Sexual exploitation of minor is governed by 17-A M.R.S. § 282 (Sexual exploitation of minor).
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.