Maine Extortion Laws: Theft by Extortion, Blackmail and Penalties

Blackmail is a crime in Maine, but it is not charged under that name. Under 17-A M.R.S. 351, extortion and blackmail are part of the single crime of theft, and obtaining another person's property through a threat listed in 17-A M.R.S. 355 is "theft by extortion," a Class C crime punishable by up to 5 years in the ordinary case.

Information last verified on October 17, 2026. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

Jurisdiction scope: This article covers the Maine Criminal Code (Title 17-A of the Maine Revised Statutes) on theft by extortion (sections 351, 353, 355 and 361), attempt (152), unauthorized dissemination of certain private images (511-A), sexual exploitation of a minor by threat (282), criminal threatening (209), terrorizing (210) and robbery (651), with the sentencing and fine sections 1604, 1704 and 1706. It does not cover what to do if you are being threatened or how to get images removed (see our sextortion scams guide), the sharing of intimate images in other states (see revenge porn laws by state), federal offenses (covered on our extortion and blackmail laws by state hub) or municipal ordinances.

What is extortion in Maine?

Maine treats extortion as one way of committing theft. Section 351 of the criminal code states:

"Conduct denominated theft in this chapter constitutes a single crime embracing the separate crimes such as those heretofore known as larceny, larceny by trick, larceny by bailee, embezzlement, false pretenses, extortion, blackmail, shoplifting and receiving stolen property."

The specific provision is 17-A M.R.S. 355, titled "Theft by extortion." Subsection 1 reads: "A person is guilty of theft if the person obtains or exercises control over the property of another as a result of extortion and with intent to deprive the other person of the property."

Two elements stand out. The person must obtain or exercise control over someone else's property as a result of the threat, and must act with intent to deprive the other person of it. "Blackmail" is the everyday word for much of this conduct, but in Maine the charge is theft by extortion.

What kinds of threats count?

Section 355(2) defines extortion as occurring "when a person threatens to":

1. "Cause physical harm in the future to the person threatened or to any other person or to property at any time; or"
2. "Do any other act that would not in itself substantially benefit the person but that would harm substantially any other person with respect to that person's health, safety, business, calling, career, financial condition, reputation or personal relationships."

The second paragraph is broad. A threat to reveal something embarrassing, to damage a business or to harm a personal relationship can fall within its words, provided the act threatened would not in itself substantially benefit the person making the threat and would substantially harm the other person in one of the listed respects. The list does not separately name threats to accuse someone of a crime or to report someone to an official, which some other states list item by item; paragraph B is the general provision.

Maine extortion penalties

The prison ranges come from 17-A M.R.S. 1604(1), which, "Unless a different maximum term of imprisonment is specified by statute," sets the maximum term at 10 years for a Class B crime, 5 years for a Class C crime and "less than one year" for a Class D crime. The fine limits come from 17-A M.R.S. 1704: $20,000 for Class B, $5,000 for Class C and $2,000 for Class D.

Under 1604(5)(A), if the State pleads and proves that a Class B, C, D or E crime was committed with the use of a dangerous weapon, it is sentenced one class higher, and under 1604(3) a Class C crime committed with the use of a firearm against an individual carries a minimum of one year that may not be suspended.

Section 1706(1) allows a larger fine "Regardless of the classification of the crime," as long as it "does not exceed twice the pecuniary gain derived from the crime by the convicted person." The same subsection states: "The State must plead and prove the amount of money or the value of the property obtained by the person at the time of the commission of the crime."

Is extortion a felony in Maine?

The theft and sentencing sections quoted on this page grade crimes by class, from Class A to Class E, and do not use the words felony or misdemeanor. Theft by extortion is a Class C crime under 355(3), carrying up to 5 years unless a weapon elevation under 1604 applies. An attempt is a Class D crime under 152(1)(D), which applies when "the person engages in conduct that in fact constitutes a substantial step toward its commission," acting with the intent to complete the crime.

Does the amount matter?

Not for theft by extortion. Theft by unauthorized taking under 17-A M.R.S. 353 includes value tiers: a Class E crime at its base, a Class D crime above $500 up to $1,000, a Class C crime above $1,000 up to $10,000, and a Class B crime above $10,000. Section 355 contains no comparable value tiers; subsection 3 states simply: "Violation of this section is a Class C crime." Our Maine theft laws page covers the value tiers for other forms of theft.

Threats to sue, report someone, or expose a secret

Section 355 does not mention lawsuits or reports to the police by name. Whether a particular threat fits paragraph B depends on its terms: the act threatened must be one that "would not in itself substantially benefit the person" and that "would harm substantially any other person" in one of the listed respects.

The theft chapter also contains an affirmative defense that applies to every theft offense, including theft by extortion. Section 361 states:

"It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this chapter that the defendant acted in good faith under a claim of right to property or services involved, including, in cases of theft of a trade secret, that the defendant rightfully knew the trade secret or that it was available to the defendant from a source other than the owner of the trade secret."

Whether that defense applies to a specific set of facts is a question for a lawyer licensed in Maine.

Sextortion in Maine

Maine's criminal code has no offense titled sextortion or sexual extortion among its theft, threat, private-image and sexual-exploitation sections. Three provisions reach parts of the conduct:

• Theft by extortion, 355. A demand for money or other property backed by a threat to share intimate images can fall within 355(2)(B) if the threatened act would substantially harm the person's reputation or personal relationships and would not in itself substantially benefit the person making it. Property must be obtained or controlled as a result of the threat for the completed crime; a substantial step toward it can be an attempt under 152.
• Unauthorized dissemination of certain private images, 511-A. Under 511-A(1), it is a crime when a person, "with the intent to harass, torment or threaten the depicted person or another person, intentionally or knowingly disseminates, displays or publishes an image of another person in a state of nudity or engaged in a sexual act or engaged in sexual contact," including an image created or modified to appear to show the depicted person that way, when the section's other elements are met. It is a Class D crime under 511-A(4). This section covers disseminating, displaying or publishing an image; it contains no demand element.
• Sexual exploitation of a minor, 282(1)(A-1). A person commits a Class B crime if, "Knowing or intending that the conduct will be used to create an image, the person intentionally or knowingly compels or induces by any threat another person, not that person's spouse, who is in fact a minor, to engage in sexually explicit conduct." Under 282(2)(A), a court "shall impose" on a person convicted under this paragraph "a sentencing alternative involving a term of imprisonment of at least 5 years." It becomes a Class A crime (up to 30 years under 1604(1)(A)) if the minor has not attained 12 years of age, or if the person has a prior conviction under section 282 or for substantially similar conduct in another jurisdiction (282(1)(B), (C)). Under 282(2), the court may suspend the minimum only if it sets out its reasons in detail, in writing.

If you or someone you know is being threatened with the release of images, our sextortion scams guide covers reporting and removal steps. For Maine rules on AI-generated and altered images, see Maine deepfake laws, and for image-sharing crimes nationwide, revenge porn laws by state.

Related Maine offenses people confuse with extortion

• Criminal threatening, 209. "A person is guilty of criminal threatening if that person intentionally or knowingly places another person in fear of imminent bodily injury." It is a Class D crime and needs no demand for property.
• Terrorizing, 210. It applies when a person "intentionally, knowingly or recklessly communicates to any person a threat to commit or to cause to be committed a crime of violence dangerous to human life." Under 210(1)(A), doing so to place the person in reasonable fear that the crime will be committed is a Class D crime.
• Robbery, 651. Robbery involves a threat of force against a person who is present. Under 651(1)(B), a person who commits or attempts theft and "intentionally or knowingly threatens to use force against any person present or otherwise places any person present in fear of the imminent use of force," with an intent the section lists, such as preventing or overcoming resistance to the taking, commits a Class B crime.

Our Maine assault and battery laws page covers the bodily-injury offenses in more detail.

Recent changes

• 2025: Public Law 2025, chapter 400 amended 511-A, which now covers images "created or modified" so that they appear to show the depicted person nude or engaged in a sexual act.
• 2026: Public Law 2025, chapter 719 (LD 524), an emergency law effective April 16, 2026, amended 282 and the other sexual-exploitation sections in chapter 12 to reach altered and AI-generated child sexual abuse material.
• The text of 355 was last amended by Public Law 2001, chapter 383.

Federal law

Federal law also reaches interstate threats and extortion, separately from Maine's statutes; our extortion laws hub covers the federal offenses.

Related pages

• Extortion and blackmail laws by state
• Maine theft laws
• Maine deepfake laws
• Maine assault and battery laws
• Sextortion scams: what to do
• New Hampshire extortion laws

This article provides general legal information about Maine criminal statutes as of October 17, 2026. It is not legal advice. For advice about a specific situation, contact a lawyer licensed in Maine.

Last updated: October 17, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is blackmail illegal in Maine?

Yes. Maine has no separate crime called blackmail; 17-A M.R.S. 351 folds blackmail and extortion into the single crime of theft, and obtaining someone's property through a threat listed in 17-A M.R.S. 355(2) is theft by extortion, a Class C crime (sentenced one class higher if the State pleads and proves use of a dangerous weapon).

Is extortion a felony in Maine?

Maine's theft and sentencing sections grade crimes by class (A to E). Theft by extortion is a Class C crime under 17-A M.R.S. 355(3), punishable by up to 5 years and a fine of up to $5,000 (or up to twice the pecuniary gain under 1706 when the State pleads and proves the amount), with a one-class increase under 1604(5)(A) if the State pleads and proves use of a dangerous weapon; an attempt is a Class D crime.

Does the value of what was taken change the penalty for extortion in Maine?

Section 355(3) states that a violation of the section is a Class C crime and sets no value tiers. Theft by unauthorized taking under 353 has value tiers, from Class E to Class B.

Does Maine have a sextortion law?

Maine's criminal code has no crime titled sextortion in its theft, threat, private-image and sexual-exploitation sections. Obtaining property through a listed threat is theft by extortion (355), disseminating an intimate image with intent to harass, torment or threaten is a Class D crime under 511-A when its elements are met, and compelling or inducing a minor by any threat to engage in sexually explicit conduct to create an image is a Class B crime under 282(1)(A-1), or Class A if the minor is under 12 or the person has a qualifying prior conviction.

Is threatening to expose someone's secret extortion in Maine?

Section 355(2)(B) lists a threat to do any other act that would not in itself substantially benefit the person making it but would substantially harm another person's health, safety, business, calling, career, financial condition, reputation or personal relationships. Theft by extortion also requires obtaining or exercising control over property as a result of the threat, with intent to deprive.