Me. Rev. Stat. » Title 17-A
Maine Revised Statutes

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 17-A, § 554 (2026)

Endangering the welfare of a child

✓ current as of May 2026
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1.  A person is guilty of endangering the welfare of a child if that person:  
A. Knowingly permits a child to enter or remain in a house of prostitution. Violation of this paragraph is a Class D crime;   [PL 2015, c. 358, §3 (AMD).]
B. Knowingly sells, furnishes, gives away or offers to sell, furnish or give away to a child under 16 years of age any intoxicating liquor, tobacco product as defined in Title 22, section 1551, subsection 3, air rifles, gunpowder, smokeless powder or ammunition for firearms. Violation of this paragraph is a Class D crime;   [PL 2019, c. 495, §1 (AMD).]
B-1. [PL 2015, c. 358, §3 (RP).]
B-2. Being a parent, foster parent, guardian or other person responsible for the long-term general care and welfare of a child, recklessly fails to take reasonable measures to protect the child from the risk of further bodily injury after knowing:  
(1) That the child had, in fact, sustained serious bodily injury or bodily injury under circumstances posing a substantial risk of serious bodily injury; and  
(2) That such bodily injury was, in fact, caused by the unlawful use of physical force by another person.  
Violation of this paragraph is a Class C crime;   [PL 2015, c. 358, §3 (AMD).]
B-3. Being the parent, foster parent, guardian or other person having the care and custody of a child, knowingly deprives the child of necessary health care, with a result that the child is placed in danger of serious harm. Violation of this paragraph is a Class D crime;   [PL 2021, c. 388, §1 (AMD).]
B-4. Acting with criminal negligence stores or leaves on premises that are under the person's control a loaded firearm in a manner that allows a child under 16 years of age to gain access to the loaded firearm without the permission of the child's parent, foster parent or guardian and the child in fact gains access to the loaded firearm and:  
(1) Uses the loaded firearm in a reckless or threatening manner;  
(2) Uses the loaded firearm during the commission of a crime; or  
(3) Discharges the loaded firearm.  
Violation of this paragraph is a Class D crime; or   [PL 2021, c. 388, §2 (NEW).]
C. Otherwise recklessly endangers the health, safety or welfare of the child by violating a duty of care or protection. Violation of this paragraph is a Class D crime.   [PL 2015, c. 358, §3 (AMD).]
[PL 2021, c. 388, §§1, 2 (AMD).]
2.  It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that:  
A. The defendant was the parent, foster parent, guardian or other similar person responsible for the long-term general care and welfare of the child under 16 years of age who furnished the child any tobacco product as defined in Title 22, section 1551, subsection 3 or a reasonable amount of intoxicating liquor in the actor's home and presence;   [PL 2019, c. 495, §2 (AMD).]
B. The defendant was a person acting pursuant to authority expressly or impliedly granted in Title 22; or   [PL 1991, c. 672, §2 (AMD).]
C. The defendant was the parent, foster parent, guardian or an adult approved by the parent, foster parent or guardian who furnished the child under 16 years of age an air rifle, gunpowder, smokeless powder or ammunition for a firearm for use in a supervised manner.   [PL 2015, c. 358, §3 (AMD).]
[PL 2019, c. 495, §2 (AMD).]
3.    
[PL 2015, c. 358, §3 (RP).]
4.  It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under subsection 1, paragraph B‑4 that:  
A. The loaded firearm is:  
(1) Stored in a locked box, locked gun safe or other secure, locked space;  
(2) Stored or left in a location that a reasonable person would believe to be secure; or  
(3) Secured with a trigger lock or similar device that prevents the firearm from discharging;   [PL 2021, c. 388, §3 (NEW).]
B. The loaded firearm is carried on the person or within such close proximity to the person that the person can readily retrieve and use the firearm as if the firearm were carried on the person;   [PL 2021, c. 388, §3 (NEW).]
C. A child who in fact gains access to the loaded firearm gains access in order to defend the child or a 3rd person under the circumstances enumerated in section 108, subsection 2, paragraph A or B;   [PL 2021, c. 388, §3 (NEW).]
D. The person has no reasonable expectation, based on objective facts and circumstances, that a child is likely to be present on the premises where the person stores or leaves the loaded firearm;   [PL 2021, c. 388, §3 (NEW).]
E. A child in fact gains access to the loaded firearm as the result of a criminal trespass by any person on the premises where the firearm is stored or left; or   [PL 2021, c. 388, §3 (NEW).]
F. A child in fact gains access to the loaded firearm as the result of a theft of the firearm by any person from the premises where the firearm is stored or left.   [PL 2021, c. 388, §3 (NEW).]
[PL 2021, c. 388, §3 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1975, c. 499, §1 (NEW). PL 1975, c. 740, §71 (AMD). PL 1977, c. 696, §170 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 445, §7 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 672, §§1,2 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 263, §§1,2 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 694, §§C3,4 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 694, §E2 (AFF). PL 1999, c. 11, §§1,2 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 429, §§1-3 (AMD). PL 2005, c. 373, §§1,2 (AMD). PL 2015, c. 358, §3 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 495, §§1, 2 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 388, §§1-3 (AMD).
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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 31 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1976–2025 · leading case: State of Maine v. Crystal Palmer, 2016 ME 120 (Me. 2016).
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State of Maine v. Crystal Palmer, 2016 ME 120 (Me. 2016). · cites it 4× “[¶ 1] Crystal Palmer appeals from a judgment of conviction for endangering the welfare of a child (Class D), 17-A M.R.S. § 554(1)(C), (3) (2014), 1 entered in the District Court (Lewiston, Ende, J.”
State of Maine v. Nathan J. Lacourse, 2017 ME 75 (Me. 2017). · cites it 3× “15, 2015) (codified at 17-A M.R.S. § 554(1X0(2016)). 2 . Lacourse’s assertion on appeal that this entry is dated "8/03/2012" is not supported by the record.”
United States v. Vaughan, 58 M.J. 29 (C.A.A.F. 2003). “” Me.Rev.Stat. Ann. tit. 17-A, § 554(1)(C) (1998).”
State v. Conlogue, 474 A.2d 167 (Me. 1984). · cites it 2× “Patricia Easler subsequently agreed to plead guilty to a charge of endangering the welfare of a child, 17-A M.R.S.A. § 554 (1983), and to testify against the defendant, in return for a dismissal of the aggravated assault charge.”
State v. Dube, 655 A.2d 338 (Me. 1995). · cites it 2× “Michael Dube appeals from his conviction of endangering the welfare of a child, 17-A M.R.S.A. § 554(1)(C) (Supp.1993), entered in the District Court (Springvale, Jaimlle, J.”
Commonwealth v. Raposo, 595 N.E.2d 773 (Mass. 1992). · cites it 2× “by violating or interfering with any legal duty of care or protection owed such minor"); Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 17-A, § 554 (West 1983 & Supp.”
Soram, 25 I. & N. Dec. 378 (BIA 2010). “060 (West 1996); Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 17-A, § 554 (1996); Md.”
State of Maine v. Christal N. Gagnier, 2015 ME 115 (Me. 2015). · cites it 3× “§ 1105-C(1)(A)(4) (2014), and endangering the welfare of a child (Class D) 17-A M.R.S. § 554(1)(C) (2014), entered by the trial court (Androscoggin County, MG Kennedy, J.”
State of Maine v. Holly Morrison, 2016 ME 47 (Me. 2016). “§ 253(1)(B) (2015), and three counts' of endangering the welfare of a child (Class D), 17-A M.R.S. § 554(1)(C) (2015), entered in the Unified Criminal Docket (Cumberland County, Moskowitz, J.”
In re Doris G., 912 A.2d 572 (Me. 2006). “In 2000, the father was convicted of four counts of endangering the welfare of a child, see 17-A M.R.S. § 554(1) (2005), for which he was sentenced to 364 days of incarceration, with all but forty days suspended, and one year of probation.”
State v. Brunette, 501 A.2d 419 (Me. 1985). · cites it 2× “One element of 17-A M.R.S.A. § 554 (1983) is that the victim be under the age of sixteen.”
State v. Thomes, 1997 ME 146 (Me. 1997). · cites it 2× “1996), and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child in violation of 17-A M.R.S.A. § 554 (1983 & Supp.1996), and from the sentences imposed.”
Show all 31 citing cases →
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 17-A, § 554(1) — 3 cases
In re Doris G., 912 A.2d 572 (Me. 2006). “In 2000, the father was convicted of four counts of endangering the welfare of a child, see 17-A M.R.S. § 554(1) (2005), for which he was sentenced to 364 days of incarceration, with all but forty days suspended, and one year of probation.”
State v. Wilder, 2000 ME 32 (Me. 2000).
State of Maine v. Brandon J. Coleman, 2019 ME 170 (Me. 2019).
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 17-A, § 554(1)(C) — 17 cases
State of Maine v. Crystal Palmer, 2016 ME 120 (Me. 2016). “[¶ 1] Crystal Palmer appeals from a judgment of conviction for endangering the welfare of a child (Class D), 17-A M.R.S. § 554(1)(C), (3) (2014), 1 entered in the District Court (Lewiston, Ende, J.”
United States v. Vaughan, 58 M.J. 29 (C.A.A.F. 2003). “” Me.Rev.Stat. Ann. tit. 17-A, § 554(1)(C) (1998).”
State of Maine v. Nathan J. Lacourse, 2017 ME 75 (Me. 2017). “15, 2015) (codified at 17-A M.R.S. § 554(1X0(2016)). 2 . Lacourse’s assertion on appeal that this entry is dated "8/03/2012" is not supported by the record.”
State v. Dube, 655 A.2d 338 (Me. 1995). “Michael Dube appeals from his conviction of endangering the welfare of a child, 17-A M.R.S.A. § 554(1)(C) (Supp.1993), entered in the District Court (Springvale, Jaimlle, J.”
State of Maine v. Christal N. Gagnier, 2015 ME 115 (Me. 2015). “§ 1105-C(1)(A)(4) (2014), and endangering the welfare of a child (Class D) 17-A M.R.S. § 554(1)(C) (2014), entered by the trial court (Androscoggin County, MG Kennedy, J.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 17-A, § 554(3) — 1 case
State of Maine v. Crystal Palmer, 2016 ME 120 (Me. 2016). “[¶ 1] Crystal Palmer appeals from a judgment of conviction for endangering the welfare of a child (Class D), 17-A M.R.S. § 554(1)(C), (3) (2014), 1 entered in the District Court (Lewiston, Ende, J.”
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