Maine statute
17-A M.R.S. § 152-A — Aggravated attempted murder
Current through First Special Session of the 132nd Maine Legislature (current through October 1, 2025)
Part of Chapter 7: Offenses of General Applicability, Maine Revised Statutes.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of 17-A M.R.S. § 152-A
Statutory text current through the First Special Session of the 132nd Maine Legislature (current through October 1, 2025). This publication reproduces the statutory text of the Maine Revised Statutes from the Revisor of Statutes' official published files; it is not the official statutes of the State of Maine and has not been certified by the Secretary of State.
1. A person is guilty of aggravated attempted murder if that person commits attempted murder and, at the time of that person's actions, one or more of the following aggravating circumstances is in fact present:
A. The person's intent to kill was accompanied by premeditation-in-fact;
B. The person, at the time of the crime, intended to cause multiple deaths;
C. The person was previously convicted in this State or another jurisdiction of criminal homicide or any other crime involving the use of deadly force against a person;
D. The attempted murder was accompanied by torture, sexual assault or other extreme cruelty inflicted upon the victim;
E. The attempted murder was committed in a penal institution by an inmate of that institution against another inmate or against prison personnel;
F. The attempted murder was committed against a law enforcement officer while the officer was acting in performance of that officer's duties; or
G. The attempted murder was committed against a hostage.
2. Aggravated attempted murder is a Class A crime except that, notwithstanding section 1604, subsection 1, paragraph A, the sentence for aggravated attempted murder is imprisonment for life or a definite period of imprisonment for any term of years. The existence of an aggravating circumstance serves only as a precondition for the court to consider a life sentence. The court also may impose as part of the sentence a period of probation of any term of years pursuant to section 1804, subsection 4-A.
3. It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under subsection 1 that the person's conduct was expressly authorized by Title 22, chapter 418.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.