Maine criminal charge
Tampering with a witness, informant, juror or victim in Maine
Tampering with a witness, informant, juror or victim is a criminal offense under Maine law, defined by 17-A M.R.S. § 454. 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. § 454.
What is the penalty for tampering with a witness, informant, juror or victim in Maine?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Tampering with a witness or informant — Applies when the actor solicits, accepts, or agrees to accept pecuniary benefit for inducing or using force/violence/intimidation/pecuniary benefit against a witness or informant, as specified in paragraph A or B.; 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 (Tampering with a witness or informant — Applies when the actor solicits, accepts, or agrees to accept pecuniary benefit for inducing or using force/violence/intimidation/pecuniary benefit against a witness or informant, as specified in paragraph A or B.; 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 (Tampering with a juror — general — Applies when the actor contacts a juror or a person believed able to influence a juror with intent to influence the juror's performance of duty.; 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 (Tampering with a juror — general — Applies when the actor contacts a juror or a person believed able to influence a juror with intent to influence the juror's performance of duty.; 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 (Tampering with a juror — murder or Class A proceeding — Applies when the conduct described in paragraph A occurs in connection with a criminal proceeding for murder or a Class A crime.; 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 (Tampering with a juror — murder or Class A proceeding — Applies when the conduct described in paragraph A occurs in connection with a criminal proceeding for murder or a Class A crime.; 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 tampering with a witness, informant, juror or victim classified in Maine?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tampering with a witness or informant | Class C Crime | Applies when the actor solicits, accepts, or agrees to accept pecuniary benefit for inducing or using force/violence/intimidation/pecuniary benefit against a witness or informant, as specified in paragraph A or B. | 17-A M.R.S. § 454(1)(C) |
| Tampering with a juror — general | Class C Crime | Applies when the actor contacts a juror or a person believed able to influence a juror with intent to influence the juror's performance of duty. | 17-A M.R.S. § 454(1-A)(A) |
| Tampering with a juror — murder or Class A proceeding | Class B Crime | Applies when the conduct described in paragraph A occurs in connection with a criminal proceeding for murder or a Class A crime. | 17-A M.R.S. § 454(1-A)(B) |
Common questions about tampering with a witness, informant, juror or victim in Maine
What class of crime is tampering with a witness, informant, juror or victim in Maine?
It depends on the circumstances: tampering with a witness, informant, juror or victim ranges from a Class C Crime to a Class B Crime in Maine under 17-A M.R.S. § 454.
Tampering with a witness or informant: Class C Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 454(1)(C)) · Tampering with a juror — general: Class C Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 454(1-A)(A)) · Tampering with a juror — murder or Class A proceeding: Class B Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 454(1-A)(B))
What are the penalties for tampering with a witness, informant, juror or victim in Maine?
Penalties for tampering with a witness, informant, juror or victim 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 tampering with a witness, informant, juror or victim?
Tampering with a witness, informant, juror or victim is governed by 17-A M.R.S. § 454 (Tampering with a witness, informant, juror or victim).
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.