A Class C crime in Maine is a mid-level felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000, sitting in the middle of the state’s five-tier system that runs from Class A (most serious) through Class E.1Maine Legislature. Maine Code Title 17-A 4 – Classification of Crimes in This Code It covers conduct that is serious but short of the violence or scale that drives a case up to Class A or B. A conviction also carries consequences that outlast the sentence itself, including a lifetime firearm ban and a criminal record that cannot currently be sealed or expunged.
Where Class C Sits in Maine’s System
Maine’s criminal code, Title 17-A, divides every crime except murder into five classes, A through E. Class C is the lowest felony tier that still carries multi-year prison exposure. Classes A and B cover the most serious felonies; Classes D and E are misdemeanors.
Offenses Charged as Class C
Class C covers a wide range of conduct. The offenses that show up most often involve property, drugs, and certain specialized assaults.
Burglary
Entering or secretly remaining in a structure without permission, with intent to commit any crime inside, is burglary and a Class C offense.2Maine Legislature. Maine Code Title 17-A 401 – Burglary The state does not have to prove you actually carried out the crime you intended; unlawful entry plus criminal intent is enough.
Theft
Theft of property valued between $1,000 and $10,000 is a Class C crime.3Maine State Legislature. Maine Code 17-A 353 – Theft by Unauthorized Taking or Transfer The same dollar range applies to theft of services.4Maine State Legislature. Maine Code Title 17-A 357 – Theft of Services Below $1,000 the charge drops to a lower class; above $10,000 it rises to Class B.
Drug Offenses
Possessing more than 2 grams of cocaine, or more than 200 milligrams of heroin, oxycodone, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, methamphetamine, or fentanyl powder, is a Class C crime.5Maine State Legislature. Maine Code Title 17-A 1107-A – Unlawful Possession of Scheduled Drugs On the trafficking side, selling Schedule X drugs or trafficking more than one pound of marijuana also falls at Class C.6Maine State Legislature. Maine Code Title 17-A 1103 – Unlawful Trafficking in Scheduled Drugs
Specialized Assaults
Most aggravated assault charges in Maine are Class A or Class B, not Class C.7Maine State Legislature. Maine Code 17-A 208 – Aggravated Assault But certain specialized assault charges do land here. Assaulting an emergency medical services provider while they are delivering care is a Class C crime.8Maine State Legislature. Maine Code Title 17-A 752-C – Assault on an Emergency Medical Services Person A domestic violence assault that would ordinarily be a Class D misdemeanor can also be elevated to Class C when a dangerous weapon is involved.
Other Common Class C Charges
Several other offenses sit at this level, including aggravated OUI with two or more prior convictions, aggravated criminal mischief, and certain forms of gross sexual assault involving abuse of a position of authority, such as a therapist exploiting a patient or a school employee exploiting a student.9Maine State Legislature. Maine Code Title 17-A 253 – Gross Sexual Assault
Prison, Fines, and Probation
Sentencing on a Class C conviction can combine prison, fines, and probation. Judges have real discretion within the statutory limits, and the specifics of the offense and the defendant’s background drive the result.
Prison Time
The maximum prison term is five years, unless a specific statute sets a different cap.10Maine State Legislature. Maine Code 17-A 1604 – Imprisonment for Crimes Other Than Murder That is a ceiling, not a floor, and many defendants, particularly first-time offenders, receive substantially less. Judges often impose a split sentence, where part of the term is served in custody and the remainder is suspended with conditions.
Fines and Restitution
The maximum fine for a Class C conviction is $5,000.11Maine State Legislature. Maine Code Title 17-A 1704 – Maximum Fine Amounts Authorized for Convicted Persons Courts consider the defendant’s ability to pay and any financial gain from the offense. A court can also order restitution to compensate the victim, which is a separate obligation on top of any fine.12Maine Legislature. Maine Code Title 17-A 2006 – Time and Method of Restitution
Probation
Probation can be part of a suspended or split sentence.13Maine State Legislature. Maine Code Title 17-A 1502 – Authorized Sentences For a Class C crime, the standard probation period maxes out at two years. The limit stretches to four years in domestic violence cases where the victim is a family member, household member, or dating partner.14Maine State Legislature. Maine Code 17-A 1804 – Period of Probation; Modification; Termination and Discharge
Typical conditions include reporting to a probation officer, maintaining employment, avoiding drugs and heavy alcohol use, and committing no new crimes.15Maine Legislature. Maine Code Title 17-A 1807 – Conditions of Probation A violation can trigger revocation and imposition of the suspended prison time.
Consequences That Outlast the Sentence
The courtroom penalty is only part of what a Class C conviction brings. Several long-term consequences are automatic.
Firearms
Maine prohibits anyone convicted of a crime punishable by one year or more in prison from owning or possessing a firearm. Every Class C conviction triggers this ban. Violating the prohibition is itself a Class B crime, punishable by up to ten years.16Maine Legislature. Maine Code Title 15 393 – Possession of Firearms Prohibited for Certain Persons A permit process exists to potentially restore firearm rights, but the bar is high.
Criminal Record Sealing
Maine does not offer expungement, so a criminal record is never fully erased. As of August 2024, the state does allow sealing of certain records, but the eligible offenses are narrow: current or former Class E crimes and certain pre-2017 marijuana offenses.17State of Maine Judicial Branch. Sealing Your Criminal Record Class C felonies are not eligible. There is currently no path to sealing or expunging a Class C conviction.
Employment and Housing
A felony conviction shows up on background checks, and most employers and landlords run them. Maine does have protections for workers in certain regulated industries, where employers must follow a structured process for evaluating whether a disqualifying offense is relevant to the position, considering the nature of the crime, how much time has passed, and whether the conduct was job-related.18Maine State Legislature. Maine Code Title 22 9054 – Background Check Center; Procedures Outside those regulated sectors, the practical barriers remain significant.
Voting
Maine never suspends voting rights for a felony conviction. You can vote while incarcerated, while on probation, and after release. No restoration process exists because the right is never taken away.19National Conference of State Legislatures. Restoration of Voting Rights for Felons Only Maine, Vermont, and the District of Columbia do this.20Vote.gov. Voting After a Felony Conviction
Federal and Travel Consequences
Some Class C convictions reach into federal programs. A felony drug conviction can disqualify you from TSA PreCheck and similar trusted traveler programs. The TSA keeps two lists of disqualifying offenses: permanent bars for crimes like terrorism and espionage, and interim bars for offenses like drug distribution, robbery, and fraud that disqualify applicants for seven years after conviction or five years after release from incarceration, whichever is later.21Transportation Security Administration. Disqualifying Offenses and Other Factors A commercial driver’s license can also be lost; felonies involving drug trafficking or the use of a commercial vehicle in a crime can disqualify a CDL holder.
Passport eligibility is generally not affected by a felony conviction alone. Exceptions apply for people on supervised release, who typically need permission to travel internationally, and for anyone with an outstanding warrant or unpaid child support above $2,500.
Alternatives to a Standard Sentence
For non-violent Class C offenses, Maine courts sometimes use restorative justice approaches that focus on repairing harm rather than purely punishing the offender. These can involve mediation between the offender and victim, community service, or structured restitution agreements.
Alternative sentencing programs target root causes. Substance abuse treatment, mental health counseling, and structured supervision can replace or supplement incarceration, particularly when the crime was driven by addiction or untreated mental illness. Eligibility depends on the specific offense and the defendant’s willingness to comply with program requirements. Courts are increasingly willing to use these programs for the right candidates.