Southern Maine Criminal Lawyer Blog

What Is Considered Harassment by Law in Maine?

Published on: March 31, 2026 | by Webb Law Firm

What Legally Counts as Harassment?

The Webb Law Firm is a24-hour law firm with offices in Saco and Portland. We answer your call 24 hours a day. Free initial consultation. (207) 283-6400.

Harassment under the law is repeated unwanted conduct directed at a specific person. The intent must be to alarm, annoy, or threaten that person. Harassment can include phone calls, text messages, physical following, or written threats. It must serve no legitimate purpose. The exact definition varies by state, but most jurisdictions treat harassment as criminal behavior when the conduct forms a pattern and causes genuine distress.

Maine defines harassment as a form of criminal conduct. Under this statute, a person commits harassment by engaging in a course of conduct with the intent to harass, torment, or threaten another person, without reasonable cause, after being notified not to engage in that conduct. The notice can come from a police officer, and it expires after one year. It can also come from a court in a protective order. Conduct that happens before the required notice is not criminal harassment under this statute. The law requires that the behavior be intentional. Accidental or incidental contact – even if unwelcome – does not meet the legal threshold.

How to Beat a Trespassing Charge in Maine: Defenses & Examples

Published on: March 30, 2026 | by Webb Law Firm

What Is Criminal Trespass in Maine?

John Scott Webb, criminal defense attorney
For criminal trespass in Maine, the state must prove that you knowingly entered or remained on property without permission. Or, it must prove that you stayed after someone told you to leave. This charge is more common than many people realize.

Maine law recognizes two levels of criminal trespass. Simple criminal trespass is a Class E misdemeanor. It applies when someone enters or remains on property that is posted, fenced, or otherwise clearly off-limits. Criminal trespass in a dwelling is a Class D misdemeanor. It applies when the property is a dwelling – someone’s home or living space. Aggravated criminal trespass is a separate charge and a Class C felony. It applies when a person enters a dwelling without permission and, while inside, commits a crime against a person, such as assault, or a sexual assault. It also applies when a person enters a dwelling without permission and has 2 or more prior convictions within the past 10 years for burglary or criminal trespass in a dwelling.

How Much Jail Time For Habitual Offenders in Maine?

Published on: March 30, 2026 | by Webb Law Firm

Jail Time for Habitual Offender Charges in Maine

John Scott Webb criminal defense attorney headshot
In Maine, driving after being declared a habitual offender is a crime with mandatory jail time. It is a Class D crime if you have no conviction for driving after revocation and no OUI conviction in the previous 10 years. The sentence is then at least 30 days in jail and a $500 fine. With either kind of conviction in the previous 10 years, it is a Class C felony. The sentence can then include up to 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine, and the minimum jail term rises to between 6 months and 2 years. What a judge actually imposes depends on your prior record, the facts of your case, and the judge. To know how much jail time you could face, you need to understand how Maine defines habitual offender status, what triggers it, and what happens if you drive while your license is revoked.

This guide breaks down Maine’s habitual offender laws, the penalties you face, and the steps you can take to protect your future.

What Does a Suspended Sentence Mean? A Clear Explanation

Published on: March 30, 2026 | by Webb Law Firm

What Is a Suspended Sentence?

John Scott Webb criminal defense attorney headshot
A suspended sentence is a jail or prison term that a judge imposes but does not require the defendant to serve immediately – or at all – as long as the defendant meets certain conditions. The judge enters a conviction and sets a specific sentence length. The judge then “suspends” execution of that sentence.

Put simply, the meaning of suspended jail sentence is that the defendant avoids incarceration as long as they comply with the court’s conditions.

What Is a Deferred Disposition? Definition, Process, and What It Means for Your Case

Published on: March 30, 2026 | by Webb Law Firm

What Is a Deferred Disposition?

Professional headshot of a middle-aged man in dark suit and blue tie against brick background.
A deferred disposition is a court arrangement where the judge delays entering a conviction. The defendant must complete certain conditions – such as community service or treatment programs – during a set period. If the defendant meets every requirement, the court imposes the sentence the defendant agreed to in writing when sentencing was deferred, unless the State moves to let the defendant withdraw the plea, in which case the charge is dismissed. Whether the State does that depends on the agreement, so a dismissal is not automatic. If the defendant fails, the court imposes a sentence based on the original plea.

This arrangement differs from a standard guilty plea in one key way. A guilty plea leads to an immediate conviction and sentence on the defendant’s record. A deferred disposition pauses that process. The defendant still enters a plea – in Maine, a guilty plea – but the judge holds off on the final outcome.

What to Expect at Your Initial Court Appearance in Maine

Published on: March 30, 2026 | by Webb Law Firm

What Is an Initial Court Appearance?

Webb Law Firm Maine Law Firm Free Consultation

An initial court appearance is the first time a person charged with a crime stands before a judge in a Maine courtroom. At this hearing, the judge confirms your identity and explains the charges you face. The judge also reviews your constitutional rights and decides whether to set bail or release conditions.

This hearing serves a critical procedural purpose. Under Maine Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 5, the court must bring a defendant before a judge promptly after arrest. If you are held in custody, this typically happens within 48 hours. If you received a summons instead of being arrested, your initial court appearance will take place on the date printed on that document.

What Does Beyond a Reasonable Doubt Mean in Criminal Cases?

Published on: March 30, 2026 | by Webb Law Firm

Reasonable Doubt Definition: What It Means in Court

Professional team of seven attorneys and staff members posing together against a brick wall background.

Reasonable doubt is a doubt based on reason and common sense. It arises from the evidence or lack of evidence. A reasonable person would hesitate before acting on an important matter if such doubt existed. Beyond a reasonable doubt is the highest standard of proof in the American legal system. It is the level of certainty a jury must reach before convicting someone of a crime.

Maine law bars a conviction unless the State proves every element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt, so the evidence must leave no reasonable person doubting the defendant's guilt. It applies to every criminal case in the United States, from misdemeanors to the most serious felonies.

Indecent Exposure Charges for Women in Maine: Laws, Penalties & Defenses

Published on: March 30, 2026 | by Webb Law Firm

What Is Indecent Exposure in Maine?

The Webb Law Firm is a24-hour law firm with offices in Saco and Portland. We answer your call 24 hours a day. Free initial consultation. (207) 283-6400.

Indecent exposure in Maine refers to the crime of knowingly exposing one’s genitals in circumstances likely to cause affront or alarm. The statute applies equally to women and men. A conviction carries criminal penalties including potential jail time. Understanding how Maine defines this offense is essential for anyone facing charges or trying to avoid them.

A person commits indecent conduct by exposing their genitals under circumstances likely to cause affront or alarm to others. This is a Class E crime in Maine. The same statute also makes a sexual act in a public place a Class E crime. It also covers exposing your genitals from a private place when you intend to be seen from a public place or from another private place, or when you intend to be seen by someone in that same private place in a way you know is likely to cause affront or alarm.

What Is the Difference Between Robbery and Burglary in Maine?

Published on: March 30, 2026 | by Webb Law Firm

Robbery, Burglary, and Theft: A Quick Overview

John Scott Webb headshot, criminal defense attorney Maine
Robbery involves taking property from a person through force or threat. Burglary involves unlawful entry into a structure with intent to commit a crime. Theft is the broad term for unlawfully taking someone’s property without force or entry.

People often use these terms interchangeably, but Maine law treats each as a distinct offense. Each has different elements, penalties, and consequences. The difference between robbery and burglary comes down to the target: a person or a place. When theft enters the mix, the distinctions become even more important. Prosecutors choose charges based on the specific facts of your case.

Am I Liable If My Spouse Gets a DUI in Maine?

Published on: March 30, 2026 | by Webb Law Firm

Can You Be Held Legally Responsible for Your Spouse’s OUI?

In Maine, you cannot be charged with your spouse’s OUI (operating under the influence) simply because you are married. Criminal liability for OUI is individual. The penalties – fines, license suspension, and possible jail time – attach only to the person who operated the vehicle while impaired.

Maine uses the term OUI rather than DUI. The offense is defined under operating under the influence. It applies to the person behind the wheel. Marriage does not create shared criminal responsibility.