Maine Revised Statutes

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 17-A, § 453 (2026)

Unsworn falsification

✓ current as of May 2026

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1. A person is guilty of unsworn falsification if:

A. He makes a written false statement which he does not believe to be true, on or pursuant to, a form conspicuously bearing notification authorized by statute or regulation to the effect that false statements made therein are punishable; [PL 1981, c. 317, §16 (AMD).]

B. With the intent to deceive a public servant in the performance of his official duties, he

(1) makes any written false statement which he does not believe to be true, provided, however, that this subsection does not apply in the case of a written false statement made to a law enforcement officer by a person then in official custody and suspected of having committed a crime, except as provided in paragraph C; or

(2) knowingly creates, or attempts to create, a false impression in a written application for any pecuniary or other benefit by omitting information necessary to prevent statements therein from being misleading; or

(3) submits or invites reliance on any sample, specimen, map, boundary mark or other object which he knows to be false; or [PL 1981, c. 317, §§17, 18 (AMD).]

C. With the intent to conceal his identity from a law enforcement officer while under arrest for a crime, after having been warned that it is a crime to give false information concerning identity, he gives false information concerning his name or date of birth, including, but not limited to, a signature. [PL 1981, c. 317, §19 (NEW).]

[PL 1981, c. 317, §§16-19 (AMD).]

2. Unsworn falsification is a Class D crime.

[PL 1975, c. 499, §1 (NEW).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1975, c. 499, §1 (NEW). PL 1981, c. 317, §§16-19 (AMD).

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 11 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1978–2023 · leading case: State v. Spaulding, 1998 ME 29 (Me. 1998).

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State v. Spaulding, 1998 ME 29 (Me. 1998). · cites it 10× “17-A M.R.S.A. § 453 (1983). [1] [¶ 6] The issue in this case is whether Spaulding's conduct misreporting a material fact on a government form constitutes tampering with a public record pursuant to section 456(1)(A).”

State of Maine v. Michaela C. Davenport, 2016 ME 69 (Me. 2016). “As part of the plea agreement, a third charge of unsworn falsification (Class D), 17-A M.R.S. § 453(1)(B)(2), (2) (2015), was dismissed.”

State v. Hassan, 179 A.3d 898 (Me. 2018). “§ 708 (2017) ; and five counts of unsworn falsification (Class D), 17-A M.R.S. § 453 (2017). Thirteen of the fifteen counts involved assistance programs administered, in part, by the Department of Health and Human Services.”

State v. Reynoso-Hernandez, 2003 ME 19 (Me. 2003). “He was acquitted of unsworn falsification, 17-A M.R.S.A. § 453(1)(C) (1983). Reynoso contends that the Superior Court (Gorman, J.”

State of Maine v. Michael J. Siracusa Jr., 2017 ME 84 (Me. 2017). “The State later dismissed those charges.”

State v. Hopkins, 526 A.2d 945 (Me. 1987). “§ 354 (1983), and two counts of unsworn falsification, 17-A M.R.S.A. § 453(1)(B)(1) (1983). These charges involve illegal receipt of “welfare benefits” — Aid to Families With Dependent Children (AFDC) and food stamps — from the Maine Department of Human Services (DHS).”

State of Maine v. Danielle A. Beckwith, 2015 ME 72 (Me. 2015). “See 17-A M.R.S. § 453 (1983). State v. Spaulding, 1998 ME 29, ¶ 13 , 707 A.”

State v. Jackson, 525 A.2d 215 (Me. 1987). · cites it 2× “§ 354 (1983), 1 and two counts of unsworn falsification (Class *217 D), 17-A M.R.S.A. § 453 (1983). 2 The gravamen of the charges was that Jackson falsely told workers 3 of the Department of Human Services (DHS) that Patricia A.”

State v. Guay, 451 A.2d 631 (Me. 1982). “17-A M.R.S.A. § 453 (Pamph.1982) in pertinent part states: § 453.”

State v. Risio, 388 A.2d 896 (Me. 1978). “§ 152), un-sworn falsification with intent to deceive a public servant (17-A M.R.S.A. § 453), and making a material misstatement of fact on an application for motor vehicle insurance (29 M.”

State of Maine v. Stambaugh (Me. Super. Ct 2023). “” By Complaint dated February 5, 2023, the State charged the Defendant with Count 2: Unsworn Falsification - 17-A M.R.S. §453(1)(C), alleging that the Defendant, “being under arrest for a crime, did give false information concerning his name or date of birth, after having been…”

— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 17-A, § 453(1)(A) — 2 cases

State v. Spaulding, 1998 ME 29 (Me. 1998). “17-A M.R.S.A. § 453 (1983). [1] [¶ 6] The issue in this case is whether Spaulding's conduct misreporting a material fact on a government form constitutes tampering with a public record pursuant to section 456(1)(A).”

State of Maine v. Michael J. Siracusa Jr., 2017 ME 84 (Me. 2017). “The State later dismissed those charges.”

— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 17-A, § 453(1)(B)(1) — 1 case

State v. Hopkins, 526 A.2d 945 (Me. 1987). “§ 354 (1983), and two counts of unsworn falsification, 17-A M.R.S.A. § 453(1)(B)(1) (1983). These charges involve illegal receipt of “welfare benefits” — Aid to Families With Dependent Children (AFDC) and food stamps — from the Maine Department of Human Services (DHS).”

— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 17-A, § 453(1)(B)(2) — 1 case

State of Maine v. Michaela C. Davenport, 2016 ME 69 (Me. 2016). “As part of the plea agreement, a third charge of unsworn falsification (Class D), 17-A M.R.S. § 453(1)(B)(2), (2) (2015), was dismissed.”

— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 17-A, § 453(1)(C) — 2 cases

State v. Reynoso-Hernandez, 2003 ME 19 (Me. 2003). “He was acquitted of unsworn falsification, 17-A M.R.S.A. § 453(1)(C) (1983). Reynoso contends that the Superior Court (Gorman, J.”

State of Maine v. Stambaugh (Me. Super. Ct 2023). “” By Complaint dated February 5, 2023, the State charged the Defendant with Count 2: Unsworn Falsification - 17-A M.R.S. §453(1)(C), alleging that the Defendant, “being under arrest for a crime, did give false information concerning his name or date of birth, after having been…”

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