Maine statute
17-A M.R.S. § 36 — Ignorance or mistake
Current through First Special Session of the 132nd Maine Legislature (current through October 1, 2025)
Part of Chapter 2: Criminal Liability; Elements of Crimes, Maine Revised Statutes.
Full text of 17-A M.R.S. § 36
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. Evidence of ignorance or mistake as to a matter of fact or law may raise a reasonable doubt as to the existence of a required culpable state of mind.
2. Ignorance or mistake as to a matter of fact or law is a defense only if the law provides that the state of mind established by such ignorance or mistake constitutes a defense.
3. Although ignorance or mistake would otherwise afford a defense to the crime charged, the defense is not available if the defendant would be guilty of another crime had the situation been as the defendant supposed.
4. It is an affirmative defense if the defendant engages in conduct that the defendant believes does not legally constitute a crime if:
A. The statute violated is not known to the defendant and has not been published or otherwise reasonably made available prior to the conduct alleged; or
B. The defendant acts in reasonable reliance upon an official statement, afterward determined to be invalid or erroneous, contained in:
(1) A statute, ordinance or other enactment;
(2) A final judicial decision, opinion or judgment;
(3) An administrative order or grant of permission; or
(4) An official interpretation of the public officer or body charged by law with responsibility for the interpretation, administration or enforcement of the statute defining the crime. This subsection does not impose any duty to make any such official interpretation.
5. A mistaken belief that facts exist which would constitute an affirmative defense is not an affirmative defense, except as otherwise expressly provided.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.