CRIMINAL DEFENSE ACROSS MAINE

Maine Criminal Defense Attorney

If you are facing a criminal charge anywhere in the state, a Maine criminal defense attorney can explain the charge, the court process and your options. State cases are generally heard in the county where the charge arose.

A former Maine Assistant District Attorney on our team

DUI Defense Lawyers Association members on our team

Felony defense in all 16 Maine counties

Tell us about your charge

Confidential. Reviewed by an attorney, not an intake service.

How Criminal Cases Run in Maine

Four things to know about a Maine criminal case

The Class of the Charge

Maine grades crimes from Class A to Class E. Classes D and E are misdemeanors, and Classes A, B and C as felony-level charges. The class shapes everything that follows.

Bail Conditions Start Right Away

Bail conditions take effect when they are imposed. A violation is a separate crime, so the conditions are worth reading closely.

Where Maine Cases Begin

A case can start with a traffic stop, a call to a home, an incident at a store or a longer in-depth investigation, in any town in the state.

How Maine Courts Handle Cases

Criminal defense attorneys in Maine work within a Unified Criminal Docket in each county. Cases move through a first appearance, discovery and a dispositional conference, where the prosecutor and the defense discuss the case before any trial.

Types of Criminal Charges We Handle in Maine

Not sure what you were charged with? Start here.

Assault

From simple assault to aggravated assault. An aggravated assault defense lawyer in Maine can explain the class and what it means.

Drug Crimes

Possession, furnishing and trafficking. A drug possession lawyer in Maine can explain the specific charge.

OUI

See our Maine OUI lawyer page

Domestic Violence

See our Maine domestic violence attorney page

Sex Crimes

See our Maine sex crime attorney page

Theft and Property Crimes

Shoplifting, theft, burglary and criminal mischief

Weapons Charges

Charges involving firearms and other weapons

Federal Charges

Cases in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine, handled by Attorney William T. Bly.

Juvenile Offenses

Cases involving people under 18

Operating After Suspension

Driving while a license is suspended or revoked

The charge is on your summons or bail paper, and you can note it in the form. Charged near one of our offices? See our Kennebunk, Brunswick and Portland criminal defense pages. Looking for a Maine federal defense attorney? See the Federal Charges card.

Where We Handle Cases

Our three offices and their main courthouses

Kennebunk office

York Judicial Center, 515 Elm Street, Biddeford

Brunswick office

Arraignment at the West Bath courthouse, 101 New Meadows Road, West Bath. The case will ultimately be transferred to the Cumberland County courthouse, 205 Newbury Street, Portland.

Portland office

Cumberland County courthouse, 205 Newbury Street, Portland

License hearings

Bureau of Motor Vehicles, separate from the court. A hearing request is due within 10 days of the suspension’s effective date.

We handle felony cases in all 16 Maine counties, and misdemeanor cases in Androscoggin, Cumberland, Franklin, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, Sagadahoc and York counties. Our Maine criminal defense lawyers can tell you which courthouse has your case. Federal cases are heard in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine, in Portland and Bangor. Attorney William T. Bly is admitted to that court, so a Maine federal defense attorney or Maine federal defense lawyer on our team can take your call.

Our Offices

Where to find us, and when we pick up

The Maine Criminal Defense Group, Portland

OUI, DUI & Criminal Defense Attorneys

Kennebunk office

119 Main Street, Kennebunk, ME 04043

Brunswick office

14 Maine Street, Suite 112, Brunswick, ME 04011

Portland office

19 Commercial Street, Portland, ME 04101

207-571-8146

Monday to Sunday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, by appointment.
We answer around the clock for arrests and in custody arraignments.

Finding Us

Kennebunk is on Main Street, Brunswick on Maine Street, and Portland is in the Old Port. All meetings are by appointment.

If You Were Just Charged

Fill in the form or call 207-571-8146 with questions for a Maine criminal attorney. We will set up a consultation and go over your summons or bail paper with you.

What Happens Next in Your Maine Case

From charge to resolution

Arrest or Summons

A case starts with an arrest or a summons with a court date.

Bail Conditions

Conditions are set by a bail commissioner or a judge and apply right away.

First Appearance in the County Court

The court explains the charge and your rights. For a misdemeanor, a plea is usually entered. Brunswick cases have this step in West Bath before moving to Portland. In the case of a felony charge, no plea is usually taken at this stage of the process.

Discovery

The State shares its evidence with the defense. Brunswick cases continue in Portland from here.

The Dispositional Conference

The prosecutor and the defense meet to discuss the case.

Motions and Trial, If Needed

If the case is not resolved, it can go to motions hearings and if necessary a trial.

Reviews From Across Maine

    
 
 
      Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had a great experience. Thank you very much for everything.
  
  Posted on Google  
 
     Wall Street 
 
 
 
 
     Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We could not be happier with the service we received from MCDG involving a predicament my daughter found herself in.  Attorney Mikayla Martin has been a fantastic advocate for us and has done everything possible along the way to help us out.  We feel truly lucky to have her in our corner.

We were a little hesitant up front with MCDG's one cost model but this has in hindsight been wonderful.  There has not been a single moment's discussion of the additional fees and costs I have come to experience as standard with other law firms.  Just 100% focus on our case and doing everything we have asked for and more along the way, with a firm commitment to be in our corner until everything is sorted out.

I highly recommend using this firm.  You will not be disappointed!

As a quick update to my original post 10 months ago.  We are finally through with a very successful resolution to my daughter's  legal issues.  I wanted to provide yet another strong recommendation for the excellent advocacy provided by attorney Mikayla Martin.  We particularly appreciated the care and empathy she showed us and my daughter through the entire process!
  
  Posted on Google  
 
     Michael Ferreira 
 
 
 
 
     Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. MCDG was from start to judgment extremely professional and organised. They capably mitigated the final judgement. I would recommend people to reach out to them.
  
  Posted on Google  
 
     Richard Henshaw 
 
 
 
 
     Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Nathan was very diligent in passing on information concerning my case. I never had to wonder where it stood and was very confident on his work. Highly recommended him and the firm.
  
  Posted on Google  
 
     Jason Coombs 
 
 
 
 
     Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had a very positive experience with Attorney Bly. I could not have asked for a better outcome. What stood out most was the communication by his team. I was kept informed at every step and felt extremely confident that my case was being handled by a team of professionals.
  
  Posted on Google  
 
     Gregory Batchelder 
 
 
 
 
     Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Mikayla & the whole team took care of me and my out of state traffic case with ease.   Highly recommend them to anyone needing representation in ME.
  
  Posted on Google  
 
     Scott Peluso

Attorneys Who Appear in Maine Courts

Your case is handled by one of these Maine attorneys

William T. Bly

Founder and Managing Attorney

Founder and Managing Attorney William T. Bly is a seasoned trial lawyer with two decades of experience defending clients in Maine state and federal courts against charges ranging from OUI and drug trafficking to manslaughter and serious sexual assault, drawing on advanced training from Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyers College.

Jennifer A. Davis

Senior Trial Attorney

With twenty-seven years of experience in family and criminal law, Senior Trial Attorney Davis is a sought-after Maine advocate known for her compassionate client guidance, skilled mediation and negotiation, and an undefeated record in more than a dozen jury trials.

Daniel D. Feldman

Senior Trial Attorney

With nearly 25 years of experience as a former Maine Assistant District Attorney, seasoned trial attorney, and winning appellate advocate before the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, Attorney Feldman now brings rigorous preparation, an educator’s clarity, and nonjudgmental compassion to his criminal defense clients.

Nathaniel H. Hitchcock

Senior Attorney

Attorney Hitchcock is a seasoned litigator, whose jury trial experience, specialized OUI training, and empathetic approach help clients facing charges from drunk driving and domestic violence assault to sexual assault and vehicular manslaughter move forward with dignity.

Mikayla J. Martin

Attorney

Attorney Martin is a dedicated criminal defense attorney who has successfully represented clients facing charges from criminal speeding to homicide, drawing on ongoing training through leading criminal defense organizations, experience with a juvenile justice clinic, and the same Standardized Field Sobriety Test training as law enforcement.

Your First Court Date Is on Your Paperwork.

Talk to a criminal defense attorney in Maine before it arrives.

Questions People Ask Before They Call

Five answers, no legal lecture

What is a Class D crime in Maine?

A Class D crime is the more serious of Maine’s two lower classes, commonly treated as a misdemeanor. It carries a maximum sentence of less than one year and a fine of up to $2,000. Examples include assault and a first-offense OUI. In everyday terms, a misdemeanor lawyer in Maine handles Class D and E charges.

What is a Class C crime in Maine?

A Class C crime is the lowest of Maine’s felony-level classes. It carries up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. Examples include a third OUI within 10 years. A Maine criminal defense lawyer can explain what the class means for a specific charge at a consultation.

Is aggravated assault a felony in Maine?

Yes, in the sense that it is charged at a felony level. Maine does not use the word felony, but aggravated assault is a Class B crime, with up to 10 years. It is Class A, with up to 30 years, when a weapon is employed and the injury causes serious permanent disfigurement or loss or substantial impairment of a bodily member or organ.

What is a dispositional conference in Maine?

A dispositional conference is a court event set after the first appearance or arraignment. The prosecutor, the defense lawyer and the court meet to discuss the case with a view toward resolving it, and the prosecutor who attends must have authority to make decisions. If no resolution is reached, the case may move toward a motion hearing or trial.

What is a deferred disposition in Maine?

A deferred disposition is an agreement where the person pleads guilty and the court delays sentencing while the person works to meet a set of agreed upon conditions. Assuming the conditions are met, the court imposes the sentence the person agreed to in writing, or in some circumstances the State moves to let the person withdraw the plea, and the charge is dismissed.

Can you get your criminal record expunged in Maine?

No. The Maine Judicial Branch states that Maine does not have expungement. Under current law, sealing applies mainly to Class E convictions, other than sexual assault offenses, and certain older marijuana convictions, after a waiting period with no new convictions or pending charges. Class A through D convictions are generally not eligible.

Looking for a local office?

We Defend Criminal Cases Across Maine. Start With the Office Nearest You.

Why People Charged Across Maine Call Us

Because we are already in this courtroom every week

We have offices in Kennebunk, Brunswick and Portland, and we focus on criminal and OUI defense in state and federal court. People comparing criminal defense lawyers in Maine, or searching for the best criminal defense attorneys in Maine, the best criminal defense lawyers in Maine or the best criminal lawyers in Maine, can call 207-571-8146 with questions first. A Maine criminal defense attorney on our team can explain your options before you decide anything.