Maine criminal charge
Unlawful interference with law enforcement dogs in Maine
Unlawful interference with law enforcement dogs is a criminal offense under Maine law, defined by 17-A M.R.S. § 752-B. 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. § 752-B.
What is the penalty for unlawful interference with law enforcement dogs in Maine?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Killing, mutilating, or permanently disabling a law enforcement dog — Applies when a person intentionally or knowingly kills, mutilates, or permanently disables a dog certified for law enforcement use that the person knows or reasonably should have known is used for law enforcement purposes.; 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 (Killing, mutilating, or permanently disabling a law enforcement dog — Applies when a person intentionally or knowingly kills, mutilates, or permanently disables a dog certified for law enforcement use that the person knows or reasonably should have known is used for law enforcement purposes.; 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 364 days (Tormenting, beating, striking, injuring, temporarily disabling or mistreating a law enforcement dog — Applies when a person intentionally or knowingly torments, beats, strikes, injures, temporarily disables or otherwise mistreats a dog certified for law enforcement use that the person knows or reasonably should have known is used for law enforcement purposes.; 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 (Tormenting, beating, striking, injuring, temporarily disabling or mistreating a law enforcement dog — Applies when a person intentionally or knowingly torments, beats, strikes, injures, temporarily disables or otherwise mistreats a dog certified for law enforcement use that the person knows or reasonably should have known is used for law enforcement purposes.; 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 unlawful interference with law enforcement dogs classified in Maine?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Killing, mutilating, or permanently disabling a law enforcement dog | Class C Crime | Applies when a person intentionally or knowingly kills, mutilates, or permanently disables a dog certified for law enforcement use that the person knows or reasonably should have known is used for law enforcement purposes. | 17-A M.R.S. § 752-B(1)(A) |
| Tormenting, beating, striking, injuring, temporarily disabling or mistreating a law enforcement dog | Class D Crime | Applies when a person intentionally or knowingly torments, beats, strikes, injures, temporarily disables or otherwise mistreats a dog certified for law enforcement use that the person knows or reasonably should have known is used for law enforcement purposes. | 17-A M.R.S. § 752-B(1)(B) |
Common questions about unlawful interference with law enforcement dogs in Maine
What class of crime is unlawful interference with law enforcement dogs in Maine?
It depends on the circumstances: unlawful interference with law enforcement dogs ranges from a Class D Crime to a Class C Crime in Maine under 17-A M.R.S. § 752-B.
Killing, mutilating, or permanently disabling a law enforcement dog: Class C Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 752-B(1)(A)) · Tormenting, beating, striking, injuring, temporarily disabling or mistreating a law enforcement dog: Class D Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 752-B(1)(B))
What are the penalties for unlawful interference with law enforcement dogs in Maine?
Penalties for unlawful interference with law enforcement dogs in Maine depend on how it is classified — from a Class D 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 unlawful interference with law enforcement dogs?
Unlawful interference with law enforcement dogs is governed by 17-A M.R.S. § 752-B (Unlawful interference with law enforcement dogs).
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.