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Maine Sex Crimes Attorney

Facing any kind of sex crime charge can be a stressful experience. But the protection of a good attorney can take away a lot of that stress. If you are up against a sex crimes charge, David J. Bobrow Office of Law, LLC can guide you through this challenging time. Our sex crimes attorney has the experience and skills to fight for you. Below is an overview of Maine’s sex crime laws, the punishments for these offenses, and how our team can help protect your rights and future.

Understanding Sex Crimes in Maine

Maine’s criminal code covers many sex crimes, ranging from sexual assault to offenses involving minors. Each crime comes with serious punishments, and understanding what behavior is punished by these laws is important.

Sexual Assault

Sexual assault often involves committing a sexual act with another person without the other person’s consent. Under Maine law, consent is a freely given agreement to participate in a sexual act. Sexual assault can include cases:

  • Where the victim is unconscious, mentally incapacitated (unable to fully understand what is happening), or otherwise unable to consent; or
  • Involving force or threats.

The punishments for sexual assault can range from years in prison to mandatory registration as a sex offender. Factors that make a sex crime worse, such as the use of a weapon or the young age of the victim, can lead to even harsher sentences.

Sexual Abuse of a Minor

Sexual abuse of a minor happens when a person commits a sexual act with someone who is under Maine’s age of consent of 16. But if an actor is a teacher who is at least 21 and commits a sexual act with a student younger than 18, that actor has committed sexual abuse of a minor.

Even if a minor agrees to a sexual act, the act is illegal because the minor is not legally able to consent. Exceptions can apply in cases where the age difference between the actor and the minor falls within specific limits. Sexual abuse of a minor charges can mean lengthy prison sentences, serious fines, and mandatory registration on Maine’s sex offender registry.

Unlawful Sexual Contact

This type of crime involves sexual touching of another person without their consent. A person who is unconscious or physically unable to resist cannot consent.

There are many small details to prosecuting unlawful sexual contact and other sex crime cases. One small detail could mean the difference between freedom and several years behind bars. A sex crimes defense lawyer from our office can work to get the prosecution to drop unfair charges against you and make sure that you receive the best defense in any criminal case.

Child Pornography

Child pornography offenses are part of Maine’s sexual exploitation of minors laws. The state forbids the possession, distribution (selling or giving), or creation of images showing a minor participating in explicit sexual activity. An actor also commits sexual exploitation of a minor if they intend to make images of a minor participating in explicit sexual conduct.

Serious punishments for exploitation of a minor include:

  • Prison sentences of many years or decades,
  • Thousands of dollars in fines, and
  • Regular registration as a sex offender.

Maine law significantly increases punishments for exploitation convictions that involve children under 12.

Other Sex Crimes

There are many other sex crimes in Maine, ranging from indecent exposure to inappropriate touching or surveilling (or watching) others during their sensitive moments. Whatever charge you might face, we can guide you through it and help shield you from punishment.

Punishments for Sex Crimes in Maine

Maine’s legal system gives strict punishments for sex crimes. These punishments can include the following.

Prison Time

Sex crime sentences vary depending on the type and seriousness of each offense. For example, if a parent or guardian of a child under 12 allows someone to make sexually explicit images of the child, the parent or guardian could be sentenced to up to 30 years in prison. But a person who commits unlawful sexual contact that does not involve penetration and is against a person older than 18 might receive less than a year in jail, depending on the facts.

Fines

Monetary penalties can range from thousands to tens of thousands of dollars. Maine crimes are classified by letters A through E. Class A sex crimes can include a maximum penalty of $50,000, while class E sex crimes typically come with a maximum penalty of $1,000.

Sex Offender Registration

Many convicted individuals are required to register as sex offenders. Inclusion in the registry can impact a person’s ability to find housing or employment.

Probation and Supervised Release

Some sentences for sex offenses include extended probation or supervised release. If a defendant’s sentence includes one of these provisions, they may have strict conditions to follow, such as:

  • Submitting to treatment,
  • Making restitution,
  • Regularly checking in with the authorities,
  • Refraining from drug or alcohol use,
  • Staying away from certain people, and 
  • Maintaining employment.

Our firm can help make sure that a defendant in a sex crime case receives the most reasonable terms for probation or supervised release.

Defending Against Sex Crime Charges and How We Can Help

Being charged with a sex crime doesn’t mean you are guilty or will be convicted. False rape accusations and misunderstandings about consent or age often play a role in these cases. This is why having a skilled sex crimes defense lawyer by your side to identify holes in the prosecution’s case is crucial.

Defenses against sex crimes can include:

  • Presence of consent. In some cases, proving that the act in question was consensual can be a defense to a sex crime charge.
  • Absence of criminal negligence. Convicting someone of a sex crime in Maine sometimes requires proof that they were criminally negligent during the act. We can comb through the details of any case to expose the weakness in the prosecution’s claims when no negligence is involved.
  • Presence of inadmissible evidence. If the prosecution’s case depends on inadmissible evidence, the mistake might be enough to throw the case out of court. Our skilled defense lawyers can scrutinize the prosecution’s evidence, ensuring it was collected legally and is not misleading.
  • Presence of false accusations. Unfortunately, some people face charges based on false claims. We can investigate the motives behind any accusation and uncover inconsistencies in an accuser’s story.

We have been defending the accused in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts for two decades, and we can tackle any criminal matter you might face.

Take Your Next Steps with Protection from Our Office

If you or someone you know is facing a sex crime charge, don’t wait to seek legal help. The consequences of a conviction can be life-altering, but with the right sex crimes defense lawyer, you can safeguard your future.

Our team is highly experienced and has received top honors from the legal community. Contact us online or by phone today for a confidential consultation. Let us stand by your side, fight for your rights, and help you navigate this difficult situation confidently and clearly.

Resource List

  • Maine Revised Statutes, Title 17-A, §255-A, link.
  • Maine Revised Statutes, Title 17-A, §258, link.
  • Maine Revised Statutes, Title 17-A, §282, link.
  • Maine Revised Statutes, Title 17-A, §260, link.
  • Maine Revised Statutes, Title 17-A, §256, link.
  • Maine Revised Statutes, Title 17-A, §1604, link.
  • Maine Revised Statutes, Title 17-A, §1704, link.
  • Maine Revised Statutes, Title 17-A, §1803, link.
  • Maine Revised Statutes, Title 17-A, §1807, link.