Maine criminal charge
Visual sexual aggression against child in Maine
Visual sexual aggression against child is a criminal offense under Maine law, defined by 17-A M.R.S. § 256. 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. § 256.
What is the penalty for visual sexual aggression against child in Maine?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 364 days (Exposure to child under 14 — Actor 18 or older exposes genitals (or causes exposure) for arousal/gratification or to cause affront/alarm to a non-spouse who has not attained 14 years of age.; 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 (Exposure to child under 14 — Actor 18 or older exposes genitals (or causes exposure) for arousal/gratification or to cause affront/alarm to a non-spouse who has not attained 14 years of age.; 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 (Exposure to child under 12 — Actor 18 or older exposes genitals (or causes exposure) for arousal/gratification to a non-spouse who has not attained 12 years of age.; 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 (Exposure to child under 12 — Actor 18 or older exposes genitals (or causes exposure) for arousal/gratification to a non-spouse who has not attained 12 years of age.; 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 (Visual surveillance of child under 14 — Actor 18 or older intentionally engages in visual surveillance of intimate body parts of a non-spouse under 14 years of age who has a reasonable expectation of safety from such surveillance.; 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 (Visual surveillance of child under 14 — Actor 18 or older intentionally engages in visual surveillance of intimate body parts of a non-spouse under 14 years of age who has a reasonable expectation of safety from such surveillance.; 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 (Visual surveillance of child under 12 — Actor 18 or older intentionally engages in visual surveillance of intimate body parts of a non-spouse under 12 years of age who has a reasonable expectation of safety from such surveillance.; 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 (Visual surveillance of child under 12 — Actor 18 or older intentionally engages in visual surveillance of intimate body parts of a non-spouse under 12 years of age who has a reasonable expectation of safety from such surveillance.; 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 |
Applies to current (PL 2019, c. 113 recodification).
How is visual sexual aggression against child classified in Maine?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exposure to child under 14 | Class D Crime | Actor 18 or older exposes genitals (or causes exposure) for arousal/gratification or to cause affront/alarm to a non-spouse who has not attained 14 years of age. | 17-A M.R.S. § 256(1)(A) |
| Exposure to child under 12 | Class C Crime | Actor 18 or older exposes genitals (or causes exposure) for arousal/gratification to a non-spouse who has not attained 12 years of age. | 17-A M.R.S. § 256(1)(B) |
| Visual surveillance of child under 14 | Class D Crime | Actor 18 or older intentionally engages in visual surveillance of intimate body parts of a non-spouse under 14 years of age who has a reasonable expectation of safety from such surveillance. | 17-A M.R.S. § 256(1)(C) |
| Visual surveillance of child under 12 | Class C Crime | Actor 18 or older intentionally engages in visual surveillance of intimate body parts of a non-spouse under 12 years of age who has a reasonable expectation of safety from such surveillance. | 17-A M.R.S. § 256(1)(D) |
Common questions about visual sexual aggression against child in Maine
What class of crime is visual sexual aggression against child in Maine?
It depends on the circumstances: visual sexual aggression against child ranges from a Class D Crime to a Class C Crime in Maine under 17-A M.R.S. § 256.
Exposure to child under 14: Class D Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 256(1)(A)) · Exposure to child under 12: Class C Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 256(1)(B)) · Visual surveillance of child under 14: Class D Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 256(1)(C)) · Visual surveillance of child under 12: Class C Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 256(1)(D))
What are the penalties for visual sexual aggression against child in Maine?
Penalties for visual sexual aggression against child 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 visual sexual aggression against child?
Visual sexual aggression against child is governed by 17-A M.R.S. § 256 (Visual sexual aggression against child).
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.