PLEASE NOTE: Legislative Information cannot perform research, provide legal advice, or interpret Maine law. For legal assistance, please contact a qualified attorney.
An Act To Protect Adults 66 Years of Age and Older from Financial and Other Types of Exploitation through Theft by Deception
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 17-A MRSA §354, sub-§1, ¶B, as amended by PL 2007, c. 476, §11, is further amended to read:
 
B. The person violates paragraph A and:
 
(1) The value of the property is more than $10,000. Violation of this subparagraph is a Class B crime;
 
(1-A) The other person is in fact 66 years of age or older at the time of the offense. Violation of this subparagraph is a Class B crime;
 
(2) The property stolen is a firearm or an explosive device. Violation of this subparagraph is a Class B crime;
 
(3) The person is armed with a dangerous weapon at the time of the offense. Violation of this subparagraph is a Class B crime;
 
(4) The value of the property is more than $1,000 but not more than $10,000. Violation of this subparagraph is a Class C crime;
 
(5) The value of the property is more than $500 but not more than $1,000. Violation of this subparagraph is a Class D crime; or
 
(6) The person has 2 or more prior convictions for any combination of the Maine offenses listed in this subparagraph or for engaging in substantially similar conduct to that of the Maine offenses listed in this subparagraph in another jurisdiction. The Maine offenses are: theft; any violation of section 401 in which the crime intended to be committed inside the structure is theft; any violation of section 405 in which the crime intended to be committed inside the motor vehicle is theft; any violation of section 651; any violation of section 702, 703 or 708; or attempts to commit any of these crimes. Section 9-A governs the use of prior convictions when determining a sentence. Violation of this subparagraph is a Class C crime.
 
SUMMARY
This bill makes the crime of theft by deception when the victim is 66 years of age or older at the time of the offense a Class B crime.