Maine Criminal Defense Attorneys

At DearLegal, we connect you with experienced Maine criminal defense attorneys who navigate the Class A-E grading scheme, deferred disposition under 17-A M.R.S. § 1902, and Maine’s narrow record relief framework.

Free to use — fees quoted upfront, before you commit
Matched with a Maine attorney in 24 hours
30,000+ plaintiffs served nationwide

Free Maine criminal defense case review

A Maine attorney will take a look. Or call 1-833-WELEGAL.

How we match your Maine criminal defense case

When you submit a Maine criminal defense matter, we route it through a national network of independent partner firms and put it in front of the one that fits best — based on the kind of case it is, what it is likely to involve, where it has to be handled, and who has capacity to take it on now.

Case type

A criminal defense matter needs someone who handles criminal defense work day to day, not a generalist. Practice area is the first filter.

Size and complexity

Some firms are built for catastrophic injury and multi-party litigation; others resolve straightforward claims quickly. We weigh what your matter is likely to involve against how each firm actually works.

Jurisdiction and licensing

Your matter is decided under Maine law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in Maine who regularly appears where your case would be heard.

Capacity and fit

Availability, conflicts of interest and language all matter. If the best-fit firm cannot take your case, we route it to the next one that can — or tell you plainly when no one in the network is the right answer.

Every partner reviews your case for free. Injury and workers’ compensation matters are handled on contingency — no fee unless you win. Other matters are quoted upfront, before you commit to anything.

Get started How DearLegal works

DearLegal provides marketing and matching services and is not a law firm. Submitting a case does not create an attorney-client relationship. Matches depend on case type, jurisdiction and firm availability.

Exhibit A

What happens with a criminal defense claim in Maine

Day 0
Arrest or charge.
Say nothing beyond identifying yourself and ask for a lawyer. Do not consent to searches. Everything after this is built on what you did not say.
Within 24 hours
Tell us what happened.
Two minutes on this page. A Maine criminal defense attorney reviews it for free and, if it’s a fit, you’re matched within 24 hours.
Days 1–14
First appearance and bail.
Your attorney addresses release conditions and gets the charging documents. In Maine, this is where the tone of the case is set.
Weeks to months
Discovery and motions.
Police reports, video, lab work, witness statements. Motions to suppress or dismiss are filed where the evidence was obtained improperly.
Before trial
Negotiation or trial.
Most cases resolve by dismissal or plea; some go to trial. Your attorney advises on the risk of each with the actual evidence in hand.
Resolution
Outcome and record.
Fees are quoted before you commit — hourly or a retainer, spelled out in writing at the free consultation.

Felony Statute of Limitations: No limit
No limit for murder; 6 years for most felonies; 3 years for misdemeanors (17-A M.R.S. § 8)
Misdemeanor Statute of Limitations: 3 years
3 years for misdemeanors generally (17-A M.R.S. § 8)
Sentencing Structure: Class A-E
Class A-E grading under 17-A M.R.S. § 1604; murder separate (§ 1251); no parole — determinate sentences; mandatory minimums for OUI, firearm offenses
Expungement / Record Sealing: No statute
No general expungement statute. Limited sealing of Class E misdemeanors after 4 years under 15 M.R.S. § 2261; juvenile records under 15 M.R.S. § 3308; pardons by Governor
Bail / Pretrial Release: Bail
Bail under 15 M.R.S. § 1023 et seq.; constitutional right to bail with exceptions for capital and life-eligible offenses (Me. Const. Art. I, § 10)
Typical attorney fee: Hourly
Hourly / Flat Fee

Maine grades crimes by class — Class A (up to 30 years), Class B (up to 10), Class C (up to 5), Class D (up to 364 days, misdemeanor), Class E (up to 6 months, misdemeanor) under 17-A M.R.S. § 1604. Murder is a separate Class A felony with mandatory 25 years to life (no death penalty — Maine abolished it in 1887, the first state to do so). Maine has no parole — sentences are determinate, served in full minus good-time credits. Maine legalized recreational marijuana in 2016 (Initiative Question 1, effective 2017) — adults 21+ may possess up to 2.5 oz of cannabis flower. Medical cannabis legalized in 1999. Maine is one of the few states without a general expungement statute — record relief is limited to sealed Class E misdemeanors after 4 years under 15 M.R.S. § 2261, and certain juvenile records under 15 M.R.S. § 3308. Maine District Attorneys plea-bargain extensively, and Maine has well-developed drug court, family treatment court, and veterans court programs.

Exhibit B

When to call a criminal defense attorney in Maine

Does any of this sound like you? Tap what applies.

Exhibit C

Criminal Defense cases we take in Maine

Which one is closest to yours?

OUI / Operating Under the Influence

Maine OUI under 29-A M.R.S. § 2411 (.08 BAC). First offense: up to 364 days jail (0-30 typical), $500-$2,000 fine, 150-day license suspension. Second within 10 years: 7 days minimum, 3-year suspension. Third in 10 years: Class C felony, 30 days minimum.

Sound like yours? A Maine attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.

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Exhibit D

How much do Maine criminal defense attorneys cost?

Typical fee schedule

Maine · Criminal Defense

Fee modelHourly / Flat Fee

Feequoted per petition or matter

Filing costsitemized upfront

Case reviewFree

Illustrative only. Your fee terms are set in a written agreement with your attorney and may include costs and expenses regardless of outcome.

Criminal Defense matters in Maine are usually a flat fee per filing — quoted before you commit, not billed by the hour.

Criminal defense attorneys in Maine work on hourly or flat-fee retainers — contingency fees are prohibited in criminal cases under Maine Rules of Prof. Conduct 1.5(d) and ABA Model Rule 1.5(d). Misdemeanors and most felonies are flat-fee; complex cases use hourly billing. The Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services oversees indigent defense — Maine recently moved toward establishing a state public defender system.

A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.

Get startedTakes about two minutes. No obligation.

Exhibit E

What your Maine criminal defense compensation can include

A Maine criminal defense recovery is built from several parts. Tap one to see what it covers.

Charge Dismissal

Outright dismissal through motion to suppress, motion to dismiss, speedy trial under M.R.U. Crim. P. 48 / 14 M.R.S. § 1101 (Maine has a constitutional speedy trial right), or DA nolle prosequi.

DearLegal is a legal referral service, not a law firm. We connect individuals with licensed attorneys who can evaluate their case. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice. Results vary based on individual circumstances.

Exhibit F

Maine criminal defense questions, answered

Still unsure? Tell us what happened and a Maine attorney will review it for free.

Start free review

No. Politely decline and ask for an attorney. Maine State Police, county sheriffs, and city police (Portland, Bangor) use trained interrogation. Anything you say is admissible. Invoke your Fifth Amendment right to silence and Sixth Amendment right to counsel under Miranda.

Yes. Maine Class D misdemeanors carry up to 364 days in jail and $2,000 fines under 17-A M.R.S. § 1704. Filing/Deferred Disposition under 17-A M.R.S. § 1902 can result in dismissal upon successful completion of conditions. DV and OUI convictions trigger major collateral consequences.

State cases go through Maine Superior Court (felonies) or District Court (misdemeanors and lesser felonies under unified system reforms). Federal cases go to U.S. District Court for the District of Maine (Portland, Bangor) under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. Federal cases commonly involve I-95 drug trafficking, § 922(g) firearm cases, federal land/forest offenses, and federal fraud.

Maine plea agreements under M.R.U. Crim. P. 11 are negotiated between the District Attorney and defense. Pleas can include charge reductions, Deferred Disposition (17-A M.R.S. § 1902 — guilty plea but entry of judgment deferred), drug court entry, and stipulated sentence recommendations.

Maine is one of the few states without a general expungement statute — record relief is very limited. Class E misdemeanors can be sealed after 4 years under 15 M.R.S. § 2261 (with specific eligibility requirements). Juvenile records can be sealed under 15 M.R.S. § 3308. Pardons through the Governor are another (rare) pathway. Recent legislative proposals have considered expanding expungement.

Maine handles juveniles under 18 in juvenile court under 15 M.R.S. § 3001 et seq. Juvenile records are confidential and can be sealed under 15 M.R.S. § 3308. Bind-over to adult court for juveniles 12+ charged with murder or Class A/B offenses under 15 M.R.S. § 3101 — the bind-over hearing is the most consequential moment.

Maine OUI (Operating Under the Influence) under 29-A M.R.S. § 2411 uses .08 BAC (.04 commercial, .02 under-21). Implied consent under 29-A M.R.S. § 2521 — refusal triggers automatic 275-day license suspension first offense. Mandatory IID for many offenses. Third OUI is a Class C felony.