Being accused of a sex crime is one of the most serious legal challenges a person can face. Even without a conviction, the stigma alone can permanently damage your reputation, career, and relationships. A conviction can potentially result in years behind bars, mandatory sex offender registration, and lifelong restrictions on where you can live and work.
At The Maine Criminal Defense Group, our experienced sex crime lawyers and criminal defense attorneys provide aggressive, confidential representation protecting your rights, your freedom, and your future.
If you’ve been charged, arrested, or are under investigation for a sex-related offense, contact us today to schedule a confidential consultation with a trusted Maine criminal defense attorney near you.
What to Know Before You Talk to a Maine Sex Crimes Attorney
Being accused of a sex crime in Maine sets off a series of deadlines and decisions that can affect the rest of your life. Before you say anything to police or on social media, here is what our Maine sex crimes attorneys want you to understand.
- Most sex offenses in Maine are prosecuted as felonies under Title 17-A, with sentences ranging from a few years to life in prison depending on the class of the charge.
- If the alleged victim was under 18 at the time of the offense, charges like gross sexual assault, sexual abuse of a minor, and unlawful sexual contact can be filed at any time, with no statute of limitations.
- A conviction can require sex offender registration for 10 years, 25 years, or life, which follows you well beyond any sentence you serve.
- Hiring a skilled Maine defense attorney as early as possible is one of the most important steps you can take. An experienced lawyer can protect your rights, guide what you say to investigators, and start building your defense before charges are even filed.
Table of Contents
What Happens After You’re Charged With a Sex Crime in Maine?
Types of Sex Offenses We Handle in Maine
Our skilled sex crimes attorney will be able to defend your rights & reputation against such charges. In Maine, Title 17-A, Chapter 11 governs all sexual assault offenses. These include the following sex crimes which The Maine Criminal Defense Group has the experience to aggressively defend against:
Gross Sexual Assault
Gross Sexual Assault, (17-A §253), is a sexual act committed without consent, by force or threats, or against someone who cannot legally consent. Penalties range from a Class C felony up to a Class A felony, which carries up to 30 years in prison.
Sexual Abuse of a Minor
Sexual Abuse of a Minor (17-A §254), is considered to be sexual activity with someone under Maine’s age of consent, which is 16 (also known as statutory rape and charged under this law). The minor’s apparent willingness is not a legal defense.
Unlawful Sexual Contact or Touching
Unlawful Sexual Contact or Touching, (17-A §255-A), is defined as any non-consensual interaction involving the intimate parts of another person, including situations where the victim is unable to consent due to age or mental incapacity, and can result in severe legal penalties, including jail time, fines, and registration on the national sex offender registry.
Visual sexual aggression against a child
Visual sexual aggression against a child, (17-A §256), is when an adult commits this crime by exposing their genitals to a child, causing a child to expose theirs, or using a camera or other device to secretly view a child’s intimate areas for sexual gratification.
Sexual misconduct with a child under 14
Sexual misconduct with a child under 14, (17-A §258), states if you are accused of knowingly showing sexually explicit material to a child under 14 to encourage them toward sexual activity, the state can charge you under §258, a separate offense from the physical-contact crimes.
Child Enticement
Child Enticement, (17-A §259-A), is considered the solicitation of a minor, often through text or social media, with intent to commit a sexual act. A Class D crime that becomes a Class C felony when the child is under 12.
Solicitation of a child to engage in prostitution
Solicitation of a child to engage in prostitution, (17-A §259-B), is an offense when a person knowingly solicits, directly or indirectly, someone they know or believe is under 18 to engage in an act of prostitution.
Unlawful sexual touching
Unlawful sexual touching, (17-A §260), is the least serious of Maine’s sexual-touching offenses, covering alleged touching over or under clothing for sexual gratification without the penetration or “sexual act” that drives the more serious charges.
Prohibited contact with a minor; sex offender restricted zone
Prohibited contact with a minor in a sex offender restricted zone, (17-A §261), is an offense when a person already convicted of a sexual offense against a child under 14 initiates direct or indirect contact with a child under 14, with a heavier penalty when that contact happens inside a restricted zone such as a school, park, playground, or child care facility.
Possession & Distribution of Child Pornography
In Maine, what most people call child pornography is charged as sexually explicit material depicting a minor, where possessing or accessing it falls under §284 and disseminating it falls under the more serious §283, with penalties rising based on the child’s age and any prior conviction.
Incest
Maine charges incest, (17-A §556), when the state alleges sexual intercourse between people related within the second degree of consanguinity
Sex Trafficking
In Maine sex trafficking, (17-A §853), is charged when the state alleges a person knowingly promoted prostitution, which covers conduct like arranging it, providing a location, or taking a share of the proceeds, rather than buying or selling sex directly.
Indecent Exposure
Indecent Exposure, (17-A §854), is the act of intentionally exposing one’s genitals in public, or in a way meant to be seen, under circumstances likely to cause alarm. Usually a Class E crime, rising to Class D with prior convictions.
Commercial sexual exploitation of a minor or person with a mental disability
Commercial sexual exploitation of a minor or person with a mental disability, (17-A §853), is an offense that is charged when the state alleges someone paid, offered, or agreed to pay for a sexual act with a person under 18 or with a person whose mental disability leaves them unable to understand the conduct.
Failure to comply with sex offender registration (SORNA)
If you are already on Maine’s registry, failure to comply with sex offender registration means a missed deadline or paperwork failure can itself become a new criminal charge.
You Are Not Alone In This
Facing a Sex Crime Accusation in Maine Doesn’t Mean the Story Is Over
An accusation can turn your life upside down overnight, but it is not a conviction. Our defense attorneys have stood beside people across the state of Maine through some of the hardest moments of their lives, and we will listen to your side without judgment before you say another word to anyone else.
Contact Us NowCan I represent myself for a sex offense charge in Maine?
What Are the Penalties for a Sex Crime Conviction in Maine?
Penalties for sex crime convictions in Maine depend on the specific offense, the alleged victim’s age, and aggravating factors such as force, threats, incapacitation, or a position of trust. Sentences range from a Class E misdemeanor, carrying up to 6 months in jail, to a Class A felony for gross sexual assault, which can carry up to 30 years in prison and fines up to $50,000.
What Factors Affect Sex Crime Sentencing in Maine?
Several factors can elevate a sex crime charge or its penalties, including:
- Whether drugs or alcohol were used to impair the alleged victim’s ability to object
- Whether verbal or physical threats were used to compel the act
- Whether the alleged victim was unconscious or otherwise unable to resist
- Whether the alleged victim had not reached Maine’s age of consent
How Long Does Sex Offender Registration Last in Maine?
Sex offender registration in Maine is divided into three tiers:
- Tier I registrants must register for 10 years,
- Tier II registrants for 25 years, and
- Tier III registrants for life.
Registration carries ongoing obligations, including in-person verification, and can affect housing, employment, and personal relationships well beyond any prison sentence.
For less severe offenses, such as indecent exposure, a conviction may instead result in community service, probation, or mandatory counseling rather than registration or incarceration.
Because penalties for a sex crime conviction in Maine vary so dramatically based on the specific facts, securing an experienced, tenacious criminal defense attorney at The Maine Criminal Defense Group is critical to protecting your rights and your freedom.
What are the Statute of Limitations for Sex Crimes in Maine?
Maine law sets specific time limits for how long the state can file criminal charges after an alleged offense, known as the statute of limitations. These timelines vary based on the severity of the offense and the age of the alleged victim.
For sex crime cases in Maine, the following statutes of limitations apply:
- Gross Sexual Assault or Unlawful Sexual Contact (Class A, B, or C felonies):
The state has 20 years from the date of the alleged offense to initiate prosecution. - Sexual Assault Involving a Child Under 16:
For crimes such as rape, incest, or gross sexual assault involving a minor, there is no statute of limitations. Charges may be brought at any time, even decades later. - Most Other Felonies (non-sexual Class A, B, or C crimes):
Subject to a 6-year statute of limitations. - Misdemeanors (Class D or E crimes):
Must be prosecuted within 3 years of the alleged offense. - Absence from the State:
If the accused leaves Maine, the statute may be paused, although extensions are generally limited to 5 years.
These laws reflect Maine’s effort to allow ample time for victims, especially children, to come forward. However, they also create significant long-term legal risks for individuals accused of a sexual offense.
Are Sex Crimes Misdemeanors or Felonies in Maine?
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You Deserve a Defense Team That Hears You Out First
Every conversation with our office is confidential, and we will never assume the worst about you before we know the facts. Whether you have already been charged or you are worried about where an investigation is headed, our Maine criminal defense attorneys are ready to sit down with you and talk through what comes next.
Contact Us NowWhat to do if you’re under investigation for a sex offense but not yet charged
The most important time to involve a defense attorney is before any charges are filed. Once police open an investigation, the choices made in those first days can shape the entire case, and by the time charges are filed, some of the best opportunities to mount a defense may already be gone.
Anyone who learns they are under investigation for a sex offense in Maine should keep a few things in mind:
- Do not talk to investigators without a lawyer – Police can lawfully lie during questioning, and a “voluntary” conversation meant to clear your name is often where the state builds its case. You have the right to stay silent until your attorney is present, and you should use it.
- Do not contact the accuser – A call, text, or message meant to smooth things over can become evidence, and it often leads to a no-contact order or additional charges.
- Do not delete anything – Erasing texts, photos, or accounts can look like consciousness of guilt and can itself be a crime. Preserve what you have and let your attorney decide what helps.
- Contact a defense attorney right away – Brought in early, an attorney can deal with investigators on your behalf, work to keep charges from being filed at all, and make sure evidence that supports you is preserved before it disappears.
Getting ahead of a sex offense charge does not mean having something to hide. It means recognizing that the state is already building its own case, and that you should have someone building yours.
What are the possible defenses against sex crimes in Maine?
Common defenses to sex crime charges in Maine include consent, mistaken identity, the Romeo and Juliet age-gap defense, a reasonable mistake about the alleged victim’s age, and marriage to the other person. Which one fits depends entirely on the facts, because a charge is not a conviction and the state still has to prove every element of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt.
These cases can be difficult to fight without an experienced defense. Maine does not require proof of penetration to establish a sexual act, and when an offense involves compulsion, the law places no duty on the alleged victim to have physically resisted. That makes some accusations easier to bring, which is exactly why the defense strategy has to be built around the specific facts.
William T. Bly and The Maine Criminal Defense Group challenge the state’s case through motions, cross-examination of its witnesses, and evidence presented on your behalf.
Consent
If the charge depends on compulsion, such as gross sexual assault, and the encounter was consensual, consent is a defense. False allegations happen, sometimes after a messy breakup or a bad date, and someone being unhappy afterward does not turn a consensual encounter into a crime. Consent does not apply where the law says a person cannot legally consent, such as cases involving a minor or a person who is incapacitated.
Mistaken identity, or a crime that did not happen
Sometimes the alleged victim has identified the wrong person. Sometimes the events did not happen the way they were reported, or did not happen at all. This defense turns on the reliability of the witnesses, the strength of the physical evidence, and the timeline, and we use the weak points in each to test whether the state can actually prove you were involved.
Romeo and Juliet, the age-gap defense
Maine law protects young people in consensual relationships from being treated as offenders. Under §254, sexual abuse of a minor who is 14 or 15 requires the older person to be at least 5 years older than the minor. If you are less than 5 years older, that element of the offense is not met. This applies only when the minor is 14 or 15, not to a child under 14.
Mistake of age
Maine is one of the few states that still lets a defendant raise a reasonable mistake about the alleged victim’s age. Under §254, it is a defense to a charge involving a 14 or 15 year old that you reasonably believed the other person was at least 16, which is Maine’s age of consent. The question the court asks is whether your belief was reasonable, not simply whether the other person lied, though a convincing lie can help show that it was.
Marriage to the other person
Several Maine sex offenses apply only when the two people are not spouses. Sexual abuse of a minor and a number of the relationship-based gross sexual assault charges under §253 are written with a spouse exception. If you are legally married to the other person, that can be a complete defense to those specific charges. Whether it applies depends on the exact offense the state has charged.
Voluntary intoxication
Some gross sexual assault charges are based on the other person being impaired by drugs or intoxicants. Where that person knowingly and willingly took the substance, rather than having it administered by someone else, the facts may not support that particular charge. This one is highly fact-specific and depends on how the state alleges the impairment happened.
No two cases are alike, and the defense that fits yours depends on the exact charge and the evidence the state has.
Contact Our Maine Sex Crimes Attorneys For Help
The best way to make sure you get good results in your sex crime case is to hire a Maine sex crime defense lawyer to represent you. Again, sentencing and the resulting penalties will be strictly dependent on the type of crime that occurred and the circumstantial factors of the incident.
Contact us to speak with a highly experienced & skilled sex crime defense attorney who can help you fight your sex crime charges. We serve clients in need of help all across southern, Maine. Call us at (207) 571-8146 or contact us directly online. We look forward to helping you get your life back.
Common Questions About Sex Crime Charges in Maine
If you are searching for Maine sex crimes attorneys because you or someone you love is facing an accusation, these are the questions we hear most often. Here is what you should know before you talk to anyone else about your case.
Yes. If police or an investigator has contacted you about a sexual offense allegation, you should speak with a Maine sex crimes attorney before answering any questions. Anything you say during an investigation can be used to build a case against you, and early legal guidance often shapes whether charges are filed at all.
It depends on the offense. Maine’s sex offender registry uses three tiers, requiring registration for 10 years, 25 years, or life, based on the severity of the conviction. A defense attorney can explain which tier applies to your charge and whether registration can be avoided or reduced through negotiation.
Sometimes. Outcomes depend on the evidence, the specific charge, and how early a defense attorney gets involved. Weaknesses in the state’s case, credibility issues, or constitutional violations during the investigation can lead to reduced charges, dismissal, or a more favorable plea outcome.
Timelines vary widely, from several months to over a year, depending on the court’s schedule, the complexity of the evidence, and whether pretrial motions are filed. Felony sex offense cases in Maine typically move slower than misdemeanors because of the additional investigation and expert testimony involved.
No. Contacting the accuser, even to explain your side, can be used against you and may lead to additional charges like witness tampering. Let a Maine sex crimes attorney communicate on your behalf so nothing you say is misread or used out of context.
