In Maine, serious offences made against another person by use of fear, physically harming the person or threatening physical harm are considered violent crimes in Portland, Maine.  In Portland Maine, violent crimes are harshly prosecuted.  As such violent crimes can be classed in a variety of ways, depending on the circumstances of the crime committed and the offender’s criminal record.

Classification of Crimes

There is a lot of information which you need to keep on your radar screen, when you are charged with a Portland Maine violent crime.  For instance, Maine no longer follows the practice of charging criminal offenses as misdemeanors or felonies.  Crimes are allocated to different classes, based upon the particular offense and the accused’s criminal history.  In order to assure you know and understand all the necessary information regarding your charges, please call a Maine Criminal Defense Attorney as son as you are accused of committing a Portland Maine violent crime.  The five (5) classes of criminal charges in Maine are:

• Class A: Most serious types of crimes in the state, punishable by incarceration up to 30 years and fines up to $50,000
• Class B: Punishable by incarceration up to 10 years and fines up to $20,000
• Class C: Punishable by incarceration up to 5 years and fines up to $5,000
• Class D: Punishable by incarceration up to 364 days and fines up to $2,000
• Class E: Least serious crimes in the state, punishable by incarceration up to 6 months and fines up to $1,000

Class A charges consider the most serious crimes like felony murder and manslaughter. Class B crimes are also some of the worst offenses like aggravated assault. Class C offenses include crimes like assault of a minor. Reckless conduct and stalking are both examples of common Class D crimes. All of these offenses are examples of Portland Maine violent crimes and can result in penalties

In Portland, Maine, violent crimes typically involve fear and/or physical harm. Below are common violent criminal charges:

• Assault – Assault is causing physical injury or offensive contact to another person. Examples of assault include slapping, hitting, punching, poking and kicking. Assault is a class D misdemeanor.  Depending on the severity of the injury inflicted, the use of a weapon, and the age of the victim, the charge can be aggravated to a felony.
• Criminal Threatening – Criminal threatening is placing another in fear of imminent physical harm. Criminal threatening is a class D misdemeanor. If a weapon is used, the charge can be elevated to a felony.
• Terrorizing – Terrorizing is threatening another person with violence. Terrorizing is a class D misdemeanor. If the threat of violence causes the evacuation of a crowded area, such as a building, the charge may be aggravated to a class C felony.
• Stalking – can be described as actions toward one person that makes that person feel distressed, anxious, or fearful.  Stalking is a class D misdemeanor. Repeated stalking of the same victim can be charged as a class C felony.
• Harrassment – Harassment occurs when an actor pursues contact with one person with the intent to torment or threaten that person, and the actor has already been ordered by a law enforcement official or a court of law to cease making contact with that person. Harassment is a class E misdemeanor, but repeated charges can aggravate to a class C felony.
• Reckless Conduct – Reckless conduct is acting in a way that creates the potential for serious harm to another person.  Reckless conduct is a class D misdemeanor. Depending on the risk to the other person, or the use of dangerous weapon (such as a motor vehicle), the charge could be aggravated to a felony.