By Appt. Only
19 Commercial StreetMain Office
50 Adams St
Here at The Maine Criminal Defense Group, we provide professional and aggressive criminal defense and OUI representation that exceeds the expectations of our clients and secures their freedom and their future.
What distinguishes our firm from the numerous law firms throughout the state is that we genuinely care about the well-being of our clients. The staff and attorneys of The Maine Criminal Defense Group ensure that every client receives hands-on and personalized attention throughout the life of their case.
Click on the text in the blue circles to learn more about each phase of the criminal justice process
and about your rights as a crime victim.
If you have been charged with assault, theft, drug possession, or any other type of crime in Maine, you have come to the right place. The Maine Criminal Defense Group provides professional and aggressive criminal defense representation that exceeds the expectations of our clients and secures their freedom in the future.
The Maine Criminal Defense Group handles all areas of criminal defense practice, including legal representation for state and federal charges. We are knowledgeable and compassionate and will work to help you get results that you are not only happy with, but that are reached in a fair and compromising manner.
William T. Bly is a 2000 graduate of Rutgers University, where he majored in Political Science with a minor in U.S. History. He graduated from the University of Maine – School of Law in 2004, where Mr. Bly focused on criminal defense & worked at the Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office in Portland, Maine as an intern prosecutor. This experience allowed him to gain insight into the “ins and outs” of criminal prosecution in Maine.
Attorney Mark Singer is an accomplished trial attorney with years of success and experience in criminal and civil litigation. As a seasoned litigator, Mark has conducted thousands of motion hearings, jury trials, and judge trials with over a 90% trial success rate. He is a persuasive and zealous advocate who thrives in the courtroom setting, where he leverages his years of experience and legal analytical and investigative skills to your advantage.
Nathaniel H. Hitchcock’s practice is devoted solely to defending persons accused of committing criminal offenses. As an associate attorney at Maine Criminal Defense Group, Attorney Hitchcock works closely with Attorney William Bly, who is recognized statewide as a skilled and fierce advocate in the courtroom. Attorney Hitchcock regularly attends seminars and training focused on effectively defending a wide variety of criminal case types.
In 2018, Attorney Ashe joined Maine Criminal Defense Group as Of Counsel. In his capacity as Of Counsel, Attorney Ashe represents our clients on a wide range of criminal matters, including state & federal drug trafficking charges, DUI / OUI charges, violent felonies, sex crimes, Fish & Game violations and bail hearings in connection with a wide variety of criminal matters.
The Maine Criminal Defense Group stands out from the many firms across the state due to our fierce commitment to defending those charged with a violent crime, property crime, OUI/DUI, or other criminal offense. We understand how even a minor charge can impact your life, and we will fight to protect you every step of the way.
2nd Offense OUI (4th lifetime) & Violation of a License…
Prior to officers giving their testimony at the hearing, DA…
Violation of Conditions of Release
NOT GUILTY following a jury trial. Attorney Hitchcock argued that…
2nd Offense OUI (.14% BrAC)
Deferred Disposition with a Driving to Endanger charge at the…
OUI Refusal (Class D), Reckless Conduct with a Deadly Weapon…
OUI Refusal and felony Reckless Conduct with a Deadly Weapon…
OUI (.11%)
Because the client's clothing was saturated in gasoline, the Intoxilyzer…
1st offense OUI with a .16% BrAC test
My client had a significant disability as one leg was…
Passing a Stopped School Bus
Client was at his / her son's school waiting to…
Criminal Threatening with a Deadly Weapon (class C felony); Reckless…
The local police botched the investigation. The confrontation with the…
OUI (.16%)
Prior to the dispositional conference we'd been asking for discovery that…
OUI, DUI, DWI, and Theft
By agreement and following a spirited negotiation with the local…
Alcohol Crimes, OUI, DUI, and DWI
Through extensive cross examination of the police officer, we learned…
Operating after Habitual Offender; Violating Conditions of Release
As a result of skillful negotiation, we were able to…
Possession of Alcohol by a Minor & Transportation of Alcohol…
The DA agreed to dismiss the charges upon completion of…
Operating Beyond License Restriction
Case filed without costs for 6 months with a dismissal…
Domestic Violence Assault; Domestic Violence Criminal Mischief; Domestic Violence Interference…
All charges were dismissed in return for a plea of…
Domestic Violence Assault; Domestic Violence Criminal Threatening
The client was placed on deferred disposition for a period of…
Operating After Suspension (OAS)
Due in large part to my relationship with the DA…
Possession of a Scheduled Drug (hydrocodone) class "C" felony
Within days of the arrest, my client met with me…
Criminal Speeding
Working against the client was his/her horrendous driver history. Client…
Felony OUI (3rd offense)
We presented the DA with an excellent legal argument that…
Criminal Speed (107mph)
DA agreed to dismiss the case after 12 months pending…
Operating a Motor Vehicle after License has been Revoked (OAR)
My client is a local Maine college student who exercised…
OUI (3rd offense in 15 years)
We had a couple of things going for us. First,…
Leaving the Scene of an Accident (x2); Reckless Conduct; Driving…
This case boiled down to one simple but difficulty to…
Providing a Place for Minors to Consume Alcohol
Client was from out-of-state and the parents were extremely worried…
2nd offense OUI (3rd in 11 years) Violating Bail Conditions…
We were set to pick a jury but earlier that…
OUI & Criminal Speed
We immediately filed a preservation of evidence request with the…
Burglary, Aggravated Criminal Trespass, Criminal Trespass, Tampering with a Witness,…
The victim in this case gave a few different versions…
OUI & Leaving the Scene of an Accident
During the wait period portion of the breath test, client…
Indecent Conduct
The client, who understandably found this entire process a humiliating…
OUI (.17%)
A preservation of evidence request for cruiser and intoxilyzer video…
OUI Refusal & Assault on a Police Officer
Assault on a Police Officer and Refusal charges were dismissed…
4 serious drug offenses; a class A, 2 class B,…
The DA's initial offer was to plead guilty to the…
OUI & Leaving the Scene of an Accident
I cross-examined the arresting officer who admitted that he couldn't…
OUI (.20% BrAC)
We successfully argued that reasonable articulable suspicion for the stop…
OUI .17%
We negotiated a deferred disposition and when our client successfully…
Possession of Liquor by a Minor (civil offense)
The District Attorney agreed to file the case for a…
Operating After Suspension for an OUI Offense
Filed for a period of one (1) year with the…
OUI Refusal & Possession of Marijuana
Filed for a period of one (1) year with no…
Trafficking Tobacco in Jail, a Class D Misdemeanor
Client plead guilty, did not have to physically appear in…
BMV Suspension for Negligent Motor Vehicle Death
We got The Crash Lab involved to review the state's…
OUI, with one prior (Class D), and Violation of Driving…
After an exhausting investigation of the actions and procedures used…
Domestic Violence Assault
DA initially sought a jail sentence of 364 days with…
Domestic Violence Assault
Our client, a licensed health-care practitioner, could not afford ANY…
OUI Refusal, Aggravated OUI (Class "C" felony), Reckless Conduct with…
Local law enforcement did a shoddy investigation and failed to…
Theft by Deception, a class C Felony
The State's evidence against our client was overwhelming, and our…
4 Counts of Possession of Sexually Explicit Material (Class "C"…
Client was placed on deferred disposition for a period of…
Leaving the Scene of an Accident (personal injury) and OUI…
The client initially retained another attorney to represent him. The…
Divorce, with a serious child custody battle.
Divorce was granted, and our client was awarded generous rights…
Gross Sexual Assault (Class "A" Felony); Unlawful Sexual Contact (Class…
During our investigation into the "victim's" background, we learned that…
Bail Argument Victory
My client was charged with felony bail violation where the…
OUI (.17% BrAC)
The client's Miranda rights were violated during the interrogation, which…
Burglary; Theft by Receiving & Criminal Mischief
Burglary charge was dismissed in return for a plea to…
OUI (2nd offense) with a high test (.21% BrAC)
DA was originally looking for jail time as well as…
Unlawful Sexual Contact (Class "C" felony); Assault (Class "D")
Client accepted a plea to simple assault in order to…
Burglary; Hindering Apprehension and Prosecution
Client and her 2 co-defendants waited more than 3 years…
Possession of Child Pornography (Federal charges)
In large part to pre-trial intervention undertaken at the recommendation…
OUI (.15%)
Following a successful motion to suppress evidence, the court found…
OUI Refusal
Refusal dismissed following a protracted negotiation with the DA and…
DV Assault (Class D)
Case was dismissed. We successfully argued that the report the…
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSAULT
The State Granted our client a second chance and offered…
FELONY BURGLARY Punishable by up to 10 years hard time…
Our client won a one year Administrative Release on misdemeanor…
OUI (.14% BrAC)
Due to the Miranda violation, client's statements were inadmissible. However,…
OUI (.17% BrAC)
We discovered upon review of the Intoxilyzer video that the…
Operating with a Suspended Registration
Filed for a period of 1 year and a filing…
M.C. v. B.L. (Protection from Abuse)
I represented a female client with two minor children in…
Domestic Violence Assault
Client agreed to file the case for $500.00 and dismiss…
OUI Refusal; Possession of Marijuana: Posession of Drug Paraphernalia
OUI Refusal, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia…
OUI Refusal
Through lengthy negotiations, the DA agreed to strike the Refusal…
Operating after Suspension & Driving without a License
Through negotiation, Attorney Taitt was able to hammer out a…
OUI (.17% BrAC); Leaving the Scene of an Accident; Disorderly…
to the client's excellent service history and the well known…
OUI Refusal and Refusal to Sign a Uniform Summons &…
On the day of jury selection, the DA offered to…
2 counts of Class "C" Criminal Mischief (felonies), 1 count…
Both felonies were dismissed in return for restitution payments to…
Domestic Violence Assault
The client was placed on deferred disposition with a requirement…
Domestic Violence Assault
Client's case was filed for 6 months with no costs…
2nd Offense OUI with a .30% BrAC
Client had major mental health and substance abuse issues. Client…
Possession of Scheduled Drugs (Class C felony)
We raised a viable issue for suppression in that the…
OUI (drugs)
Client suffered from numerous maladies and ailments, including severe spinal…
Refusing to Submit to Arrest; Criminal Mischief; OUI Refusal
On the day of trial and immediately prior to the…
Aggravated Domestic Violence Assault (Class "B" felony)
Client insisted he was innocent and submitted to a polygraph…
Domestic Violence Assault
Case dismissed on the day of trial. The girlfriend signed…
Possession of a Scheduled Drug (cocaine)
I successfully argued to the DA that the act of…
Aggravated Criminal Mischief (class "C" felony)
Through a long process of negotiations, we were able to…
Domestic Violence Assault; Domestic Violence Criminal Threatening; Domestic Violence Terrorizing;…
Client was placed on deferred disposition for a period of…
4 counts of Burglary of a Motor Vehicle (class "D"…
Following trial and on a motion for acquittal, the court…
Domestic Violence Terrorizing
Client placed on Deferred Disposition for 6 months. Following the…
Possession of a Scheduled Drug (Class C Felony)
Charges were dismissed prior to trial. We were able to…
Domestic Violence Assault & Domestic Violence Terrorizing
Client placed on deferred disposition for a period of one…
Domestic Violence Assault
Client had a claim of self defense. While the girlfriend…
Solicitation of a Prostitute, Unsworn Falsification, False Public Report
All charges filed for one year with a dismissal of…
OUI (drugs) & Possession of Marijuana
The marijuana charge and the OUI charge were dismissed in…
Aggravated Domestic Violence Assault (Class B Felony)
We presented our investigation to the DA, which included a…
2nd Offense OUI Refusal
The BMV hearing was held and the officer testified that…
Violating Protection from Abuse Order (Class E); Obstructing a 911…
Violation of Protection Order filed a period of 1 year…
OUI with an elevated breath test result (.19%)
Client pled guilty to a non-driving offense for a $1,000.00…
OUI with a person under the age of 16 years…
On the day that the suppression hearing was to be…
OUI with an elevated test.
As an officer in the navy, Client indicated a discharge…
Tampering with Evidence
Case was dismissed at docket call. We argued that the…
Trafficking in Scheduled drugs (Class "C" felony) and Possession of…
Client was admitted to an in-patient substance abuse treatment facility…
Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Marijuana & Possession of Drug…
We believed we had excellent grounds for a motion to…
Drug Crimes
Defendant faced a myriad of drug charges, including trafficking in…
Civil Possession of Marijuana and OUI
The marijuana and OUI charges were dismissed and the client…
Drug Crimes
Client was charged with Unlawful Trafficking in Scheduled Drugs, which…
Furnishing a Place for Minors to Consume Alcohol
The District Attorney wanted the client to serve 48 hours…
OUI; Possession of Oxycodone; Possession of Scheduled Drugs; Driving to…
Search was problematic for the state and client had a…
Transportation and Possession of Alcohol by a Minor
Client was placed on deferred disposition and the charges were…
Alcohol Crimes
Charge was Providing a Place for Minors to Consume Alcohol.…
Domestic Violence Assault; Domestic Violence Criminal Threatening
We had all the charges dismissed in light of the…
Domestic Violence Assault; Threatening Display of a Weapon
Domestic violence charge and Threatening Display of a Weapon charges…
Domestic Violence Assault
Domestic Violence Assault charge was dismissed in exchange for a…
Domestic Violence Assault; Aggravated Criminal Mischief (class "C" felony); Criminal…
Client pled guilty to simple criminal mischief for an unconditional…
Domestic Violence Assault
Client placed on deferred disposition for a period of 1…
Domestic Violence Assault
Client was placed on deferred disposition and the case was…
Criminal Threatening (DV) and Domestic Violence Assault
Case was dismissed following disclosure of an audio tape containing…
Criminal Threatening with a Deadly Weapon (DV)
Grand Jury refused to indict and the case was dismissed.
Criminal Threatening with a Deadly Weapon (DV)
Case was placed on deferred disposition and the case was…
Terrorizing (Class D misdemeanor); Criminal Mischief (Class E)
Terrorizing charge filed for 6 months at no cost and…
Domestic Violence Assault
Case was placed on deferred disposition for a period of…
OUI with low breath test result
We spoke with the DA prior to arraignment and got…
DV Assault, DV Criminal Threatening, Criminal Mischief, Violation of Bail…
Client pled guilty to the charge of Criminal Mischief for…
OUI (.29%) & Endangering the Welfare of a Child
In return for a plea of guilty to the OUI,…
DV Assault, DV Terrorizing, DV Terrorizing with a Deadly Weapon…
NOT GUILTY after 3 days of deliberation. Key was the…
DV Assault; Violation of Conditions of Release
DV Assault was dismissed and client took a deferred disposition…
1st Offense OUI .13%
Client's case was dropped down to a Driving to Endanger…
1st Offense OUI .16%
A motion to suppress evidence for lack of reasonable suspicion…
OUI (blood test obtained)
We filed a motion to suppress the results of the…
Possession of Marijuana
We negotiated an outcome that resulted in a filing for…
OUI Refusal
Following a hearing before the BMV, the 9 month administrative…
OUI & Possession of Marijuana
Client pled guilty to the charge of Driving to Endanger…
Operating after Suspension
Case dismissed following a successfully litigated motion to suppress evidence.
OUI & Leaving the Scene of an Accident
Client was placed on deferred disposition for a period of…
A BMV hearing was held on the sole issue of…
The client was spared having to serve the 275 day…
OUI with a breath test above .15%
Client pled guilty to Driving to Endanger for a fine…
Criminal Speed (102mph in 65mph zone)
Client placed on deferred disposition with requirement that she participate…
Criminal Speed
Criminal Speed charge dismissed in return for an admission to…
Client was exceeding the speed limit by more than 30mph…
Suspension was rescinded. Client had a CDL and was able…
OUI Refusal with a single car accident
Client pled guilty to a Driving to Endanger for a…
OUI with an elevated breath test
Client pled guilty to a Driving to Endanger for a…
1st offense OUI with a .17% BrAC
Plea agreement that included the mandatory minimum fine and a…
2nd offense OUI with a breath test above .15%, Failure…
Client pled guilty to 1st offense OUI for a fine…
1st offense OUI
BMV suspension rescinded and client pled guilty to a Driving…
OUI with a breath test of over 3x the legal…
Client pled guilty to a non-aggravated OUI charge for a…
Trafficking in Marijuana (Class C felony); Possession of Marijuana (civil…
All charges were dismissed and the client admitted to the…
OUI; Illegal Transportation of Liquor by a Minor
Dismissal of all charges. Client pled guilty to Driving to…
OUI Refusal… 30 days later client was arrested for a…
Client pled guilty to a non-aggravated OUI charge for a…
4 Counts of Aggravated Assault (Class B felony) and 1…
State was unable to provide us with the raw data…
DV Assault; Violation of Conditions of Release
Violating Conditions of Release charge dismissed and DV Assault charged…
Bill Bly did an excellent job of listening and addressing our concerns. He answered all of our questions in a timely manner and got results. I highly recommend his services!!!
I have had the honor and privilege of working with Mr. Bly who was extremely knowledgeable and thorough and whose expertise in all legal matters was truly outstanding. Mr. Bly was kind, and helpful every step of the way. I would highly recommend Mr. Bly. There can be no attorney…
I’ve gotten to know William through numerous legal conferences and have been incredibly impressed with how serious he cares about his clients and how he is a true human who wants to take care of your future. I will always refer my clients to his firm whenever I can.
This is THE premier criminal defense firm in Maine! If any family member or friend of mine needed representation in Maine, I would have them call the Maine Criminal Defense Group! Lawyer Bill Bly and his associates are awesome. Plus Bill Bly trained at Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyers College. That…
Changed My Opinion on Lawyers I called Bill and had a consultation. He listened intently to my case and laid out our pathway. He was straight forward, real and didn't toss me a bunch of crap. I fully expected him to fluff up the case and try to convince me…
THANK YOU FOR THE EXCELLENT WORK DONE ON MY CLIENT'S BEHALF Thank you very much for the excellent work performed on behalf of my client on her Maine criminal case. I appreciate the attentive service, the quality of the work and the reasonableness of your fees. As you know, part…
THANK YOU ATTORNEY BLY! I WOULD TRUST ATTY BLY W/ MY LIFE ... IN FACT, I DID! There is very little in this world that scares me more than the jail cell bars being locked and knowing that I am trapped behind bars in prison. However, after a "Hit &…
5 STARS FOR BILL BLY AND STAFF While on vacation in Maine, I was arrested for OUI. Prior to this happening to me, I had never been in trouble with the law before and was completely overwhelmed and embarrassed by the situation. Coming from a world away in California, I…
PITBULL If you are looking for the best DUI lawyer around its Bill Bly!! A++ service and he turned a .20 DUI into vanishing air. Thanks again Bill!! You are the man!! Thanks for fighting for my rights!!
HIRE BILL BLY! YOU WON'T REGRET IT. My experience working with Mr. Bly has been a great experience. Never having to wait for an answer is HUGE when dealing with difficult situations. Gets back within the day if not within the hour. I would highly recommend this law firm. Give…
RECOMMEND YOU TO ANYONE I want to thank you for all your help. I was in a bad place when I first came to you. You really helped me through a terrible time. I would definitely recommend you to anyone that needs help. I just wanted to say thank you…
WON'T HESITATE TO REFER YOU Thank you for everything you did for my son. He and I both appreciate the hard work that you put into this case. He has been able to turn his life around now this is behind him. I know that you are paid to do…
ABOVE AND BEYOND OUR EXPECTATIONS I want to thank you for everything you have done for my family. You have gone above & beyond our expectations and you are to be commended for such a solid, compelling case. You are a great attorney and an even greater person. We have…
CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH Thank you for all your help with my OUI. When we first met I was resigned to the “fact” that I was going to be convicted of an OUI and would lose my military career over it. I must say that I was quite surprised, shocked…
WILLINGNESS TO ASSIST IN A TIME OF NEED Thank you for all your help concerning my case. As a veteran returning from overseas service, your willingness to assist me in a time of need and when I wasn’t in a position to pay for an attorney is greatly appreciated. You…
IN TROUBLE WITH THE LAW? If you ever find yourself caught up in the legal system. The Maine Criminal Defense Group and his staff are the ones you want to have on your side. This man will fight hard for your rights and do everything he can to make your…
I RECOMMEND WILLIAM BLY We're glad we chose Bill for our legal needs. We found Bill to be knowledgeable, clear, and diligent. He actively managed my case and the overall outcome was the best that we could have hoped for. We would recommend Bill to others in a similar situation…
PHENOMENAL LAWYER The Maine Criminal Defense Group is hard working, knowledgeable, and determined when working on cases. He was pleasant and helpful throughout the entire process by answering any and all questions I may have had. His diligent work on my case, personal connections in the court systems, and professionalism…
VERY HELPFUL - THANKS BILL! Bill Bly did a magnificent job collecting evidence and building leverage with the DA's office that allowed us to plead an OUI down to a lesser charge. Not only was he very knowledgeable about Maine law, but he also understood the personalities of both the…
PHD DOCTORAL CANDIDATE, WADE CHARNOCK Mr. Bly is a superb lawyer! He is without a doubt one of the finest criminal defense lawyers in the state of Maine. He handled my son's case with sincerity and professionalism, and the results, "All Charges Dismissed!" If you need a defense attorney, he…
HIRE MR. BLY. YOU WON'T REGRET IT! I retained Mr. Bly over a year ago. I was charged with OUI and having a minor in the car. Mr. Bly was able to arrange a plea to a Driving to Endanger with no jail time and only a 30 day license…
I VERY MUCH RECOMMEND MR. BLY I was lucky to have contacted Mr. Bly in a matter that unfairly could have changed my life. He was very open, concerned, and committed to helping me. He answered every call promptly, never lost interest in my case, and went out of his…
BOTTOM LINE RESULTS As an attorney it was clear to me that achieving a favorable disposition of an OUI charge with a difficult fact pattern would require specialized representation. Bill quickly proved this instinct correct and his nuanced and detailed understanding of and experience with the intricacies of the arrest…
MR OUT OF STATE OUI I went to Maine on a weekend vacation trip and got a little reckless. I ended up driving the wrong way on a one way street and received an oui. Now I was up against loosing my cdl, my job, and my new home I…
OUI DISMISSED Feeling helpless? Bill is the person you need to contact. Never being on the other side of the law, I contacted Bill in a panic. He sensed this and actually agreed to meet me on a Saturday. Bill was extremely personable and gave me the facts that appeared…
Definitely Recommend My fiancé and I were visiting Kennebunk over the summer when I was stopped and arrested for OUI. I couldn't believe that this was happening. Once I got over the shock and humiliation of the arrest, my fiancé and I began searching for an attorney in southern Maine.…
HAPPY CLIENT I met with Bill back in June of this year for an OUI charge. When I met with Bill, he sat down with me and explained the entire court process and what to expect going forward. He didn't try and "sell me" on hiring him or make promises…
RECOMMENDATION Bill Bly is very professional, does his homework and he is very thorough. And his staff is the same. He and his staff returned all my phone calls and kept us abreast of the progress in our case. I highly recommend him.
THANK YOU MR. BLY Mr. Bly assisted me with a case where I was charged with assaulting my girlfriend and my brother as well as some other people. After reading the police reports, I felt that the case was hopeless. Mr. Bly negotiated and outcome that prevented me from a…
THANKS FOR YOUR EXCELLENT WORK Attorney Bly defended me on charges of theft and secured a not guilty after trial. Thank you for all of your hard work.
LEGAL NIGHTMARE SOLVED THANKS TO BILL BLY I was in a legal nightmare, after being arrested for an Operating Under the Influence, OUI in the great State of Maine. I was previously classified as a habitual offender in another state, so this was not my first charge concerning this particular…
VERY DEDICATED ATTORNEY Bill was very dedicated to my issue and worked with me to get me the best possible outcome. Bill and his law office kept me well informed on developments on the situation and was very upfront with me, gaining my trust and confidence in his skills helping…
JOB WELL DONE First and for most I'd like to thank you very much for sorting out the snowmobile OUI bs for me. The outcome could not have been more desirable and the process with you couldn't have been better. On a professional note I give an A+ and will…
Thank you for a job well done Attorney Bly handled a sensitive domestic violence charge for me in a VERY favorable fashion. Ultimately, he got the charges thrown out. I'm grateful to him and his staff for all their hard work. Ann is especially helpful and was always available to…
Bly- A True Professional Committed to Client Satisfaction Two years ago I was involved in a high publicity case that involved significant legal implications. This uncharacteristic life event left me overwhelmed by emotional distress and not knowing where to turn next. Through thorough research and high esteem recommendations, I contacted…
WILLIAM BLY WON'T LET YOU DOWN! I will with out hesitation recommend Bill to anyone !!! He fought diligently for a year to ensure me the best results possible and to avoid trial. In the end Bill saved me my career and kept me out of jail. There is really…
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS! My OUI and criminal speeding charges brought a great deal of stress and hardship to not only myself but my entire family. Having both of the charges against me dismissed was an absolute godsend. Once dropped, it felt as though a dark cloud…
PROFESSIONAL, HONEST, AND QUICK TO REPLY Working with Attorney Bly was a pleasure - given the circumstances. He acknowledged my novelty to the courtroom and was sensitive to my case by guiding me through the process, step by step. Especially when I seemed overwhelmed and confused, anxious and uneasy, Bill…
SUPPORTIVE AND RESOURCEFUL It was an absolute pleasure to work with The Maine Criminal Defense Group. At the eleventh hour, I contacted him for help with a legal matter. What I originally thought would be a quick and easy case, turned into a more challenging matter. Nonetheless, given his knowledge…
HIGHLY RECOMMEND ATTORNEY WILLIAM BLY I am delighted to write this recommendation for Attorney William Bly. Before hiring The Maine Criminal Defense Group to represent me I had worked with another lawyer which resulted in a warrant out for my arrest. Being out of state I had to thoroughly research…
HIGHLY RECOMMEND I found myself searching the internet hoping to find an attorney who I could trust and wouldn't just tell me what I wanted to hear. I was visiting from out of state when I was charged with an OUI as well as a refusal. I contacted Mr. Bly…
THANKS FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN MY SON'S LIFE Bill, Thank you very much for getting back to me. My son and I want to thank you very much for the finalizing of this hard lesson learned in life's journey. I knew from the beginning that not only are you…
SINCEREST GRATITUDE Mrs. Ann, I want to say thank you again to yourself and Bill again for OUTSTANDING work!! Please pass my regards to Bill. With sincere gratitude.
JC Recommends The Maine Criminal Defense Group I am very pleased with the representation I received from The Maine Criminal Defense Group. After having been charged with a very serious crime, his thoughtful and prudent strategy and diligent execution resulted in a better than expected outcome. The original charge was…
TIRELESS AND KNOWLEDGEABLE Bill Bly saved my career in the Navy. He worked on my case for almost six months before he was able to negotiate a positive outcome. His persistence and efforts with the DA were the only things that kept my case from going to trial. He was…
Without a doubt, choose Mr. Bly! When I was charged with an OUI, I felt that everything that I worked for went down the drain. I knew the consequences of an OUI, and it weighed heavy on my conscious. An OUI for a Naval Officer is a career killer. Having…
Given Me the Gift of Time Thank you for everything. You've given me the gift of time and I can't thank you enough for that.
Dismissal of Driving on Suspended - Please read if you are unsure if W. Bly is the right attorney! After looking at reviews online and a brief conversation with Mr. Bly, I decided to retain him. I was charged with Driving on an out of State VA Drivers license. On…
Saved my career and preserved my future! Bill, thank you so much for your excellent legal representation these last few months. You gave me straight and concise answers throughout the entire process and I can't thank you enough for helping me keep my career in the U.S. Navy. Ann Dickey…
DCS Recommends The Maine Criminal Defense Group Two years ago our family began living a nightmare that we could never have imagined possible. Our 18-year-old son was arrested for a serious offense he committed with a "friend." Our family was in a tailspin and we did not know where to…
Most crimes are defined in the Maine Criminal Code, which is part of the Maine Revised Statutes. It covers “substantive offenses” and their associated punishments. This is the starting point for finding out if you have committed a criminal offense. The Code can easily be searched online. However, the language used can be confusing unless you are accustomed to “Legalese”. Also, not all crimes are defined in the Criminal Code. Other areas of the Maine Revised Statutes cover specific crimes. For instance, numerous hunting and fishing offenses are included in Title 12. Therefore, it is always best to check with a criminal defense attorney if you are arrested or charged with a crime.
A criminal case in Maine generally involves a witness or victim reporting the offense to a law enforcement officer – or a law enforcement officer stopping an individual. The State will then decide whether to file criminal charges against the accused, based on a multitude of factors, including whether there is probable cause to believe a crime has been committed, to maintain order in society, provide justice for the victim, protect the public, and to deter other potential offenders. For a case to proceed, a prosecutor or a Grand Jury must approve the charges.
The criminal case will be known as “State of Maine v. Defendant” and, if the prosecution proves guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt”, a jail or prison sentence may be handed down by the judge. The freedom of the accused is at stake, so the burden of proof is necessarily high. A civil case is very different. It can be brought by one or more individuals to resolve a dispute, such as a divorce, breach of contract or landlord-tenant disputes. There is no risk of jail in such cases. The person who initiates the lawsuit is known as the “plaintiff” and in order to win the civil case, it must be demonstrated by “a preponderance of the evidence” that he or she is in the right. The burden of proof is, therefore, lower in a civil case than a criminal case, where “beyond a reasonable doubt” is used.
Probation and parole are often confused but are actually very different. Probation is a specific period of time during which a person found guilty of a criminal offense in Maine must report to his or her probation officer. The officer is responsible for supervising the offender during this period, with a set of specific conditions imposed by the court that the offender must observe closely. The offender must commit no further criminal activity to avoid probation being revoked and returning to jail. In these cases, the person who was convicted of a crime is given a split sentence, which includes time in jail and an unsuspended portion of the sentence. If probation is revoked, that person could be facing the full unsuspended sentence being imposed as a result of the violation.
Parole, on the other hand, is an early release from a prison sentence imposed on a person found guilty of a crime. During this period, the released offender will be monitored and, if the conditions of their parole are broken, they may be sent back to jail. Note that Maine no longer imposes sentences with “eligibility for parole”. However, if you are convicted of a crime and sent to jail, you may qualify for “good time” credits. These may add up to an early release from a jail sentence.
For some specific crimes, there are guidelines outside of the above. Murder, for instance, is punishable by between 25 years and life imprisonment.
Most criminal offenses in Maine are considered “misdemeanors” and only the most serious crimes detailed in Classes A, B and C are considered “felonies” (as well as murder, which has been covered already).
In Maine, operating under the influence (OUI) is the term used for the offense of driving a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content of .08% or over. This is a criminal offense and it will stay on both your criminal record and driving record permanently. For a first offense OUI, the crime charged is a class D. Most OUI charges are misdemeanors. For someone with multiple prior convictions or cases where injuries resulted, they could be facing felony OUI charges.
Despite popular belief, it doesn’t expire after a certain time period and it can continue to negatively impact employment, financial matters, and freedom of travel for the rest of your life. These long-term consequences are in addition to the immediate penalties, such as an automatic license suspension, substantial fines, and even a possible jail sentence. That’s why it’s important to seek experienced legal representation to defend OUI charges in Maine.
There is no provision within Maine law for the expungement of adult criminal records – with only one exception. That is for convictions for Class E crimes (the least serious criminal offenses) committed by people aged 18 to 21 years old at the time of the offense. The law referenced had a “sunset provision” on it, which means it expired on a certain date and may no longer be available for young offenders to use.
A few examples of Class E crimes include:
If you were between the ages of 18 and 21 when you were convicted of such a crime, you may petition the court for an expungement providing you meet the following conditions:
If you are facing criminal charges in Maine, the attorneys at The Maine Criminal Defense Group are here to help. Call our office to speak with
one of our team members, who will discuss your case with you and set up a consultation with one of our attorneys
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