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

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 17-A, § 753 (2026)

Hindering apprehension or prosecution

✓ current as of May 2026
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1. 
[PL 2001, c. 383, §84 (RP); PL 2001, c. 383, §156 (AFF).]
1-A. 
[PL 2001, c. 667, Pt. D, §16 (RP); PL 2001, c. 667, Pt. D, §36 (AFF).]
1-B.  A person is guilty of hindering apprehension or prosecution if, with the intent to hinder, prevent or delay the discovery, apprehension, prosecution, conviction or punishment of another person for the commission of a crime, the person:  
A. Harbors or conceals the other person and:  
(1) The actor knew of the conduct of the other person that has in fact resulted in the charge of murder or a Class A crime or that has in fact rendered the other person liable to such a charge. Violation of this subparagraph is a Class B crime;  
(2) The conduct of the other person has in fact resulted in the charge of murder or a Class A crime or in fact has rendered the other person liable to such a charge or the other person is charged or is liable to be charged with a Class B crime. Violation of this subparagraph is a Class C crime;  
(3) The other person is charged or is liable to be charged with a Class C crime. Violation of this subparagraph is a Class D crime; or  
(4) The other person is charged or is liable to be charged with a Class D or Class E crime. Violation of this subparagraph is a Class E crime;   [PL 2001, c. 667, Pt. D, §17 (NEW); PL 2001, c. 667, Pt. D, §36 (AFF).]
B. Provides or aids in providing a dangerous weapon, transportation, disguise or other means of avoiding discovery or apprehension and:  
(1) The actor knew of the conduct of the other person that has in fact resulted in the charge of murder or a Class A crime or that has in fact rendered the other person liable to such a charge. Violation of this subparagraph is a Class B crime;  
(2) The conduct of the other person has in fact resulted in the charge of murder or a Class A crime or in fact has rendered the other person liable to such a charge or the other person is charged or is liable to be charged with a Class B crime. Violation of this subparagraph is a Class C crime;  
(3) The other person is charged or is liable to be charged with a Class C crime. Violation of this subparagraph is a Class D crime; or  
(4) The other person is charged or is liable to be charged with a Class D or Class E crime. Violation of this subparagraph is a Class E crime;   [PL 2001, c. 667, Pt. D, §17 (NEW); PL 2001, c. 667, Pt. D, §36 (AFF).]
C. Conceals, alters or destroys any physical evidence that might aid in the discovery, apprehension or conviction of the other person and:  
(1) The actor knew of the conduct of the other person that has in fact resulted in the charge of murder or a Class A crime or that has in fact rendered the other person liable to such a charge. Violation of this subparagraph is a Class B crime;  
(2) The conduct of the other person has in fact resulted in the charge of murder or a Class A crime or in fact has rendered the other person liable to such a charge or the other person is charged or is liable to be charged with a Class B crime. Violation of this subparagraph is a Class C crime;  
(3) The other person is charged or is liable to be charged with a Class C crime. Violation of this subparagraph is a Class D crime; or  
(4) The other person is charged or is liable to be charged with a Class D or Class E crime. Violation of this subparagraph is a Class E crime;   [PL 2001, c. 667, Pt. D, §17 (NEW); PL 2001, c. 667, Pt. D, §36 (AFF).]
D. Warns the other person of impending discovery or apprehension, except that this paragraph does not apply to a warning given in connection with an effort to bring another person into compliance with the law, and:  
(1) The actor knew of the conduct of the other person that has in fact resulted in the charge of murder or a Class A crime or that has in fact rendered the other person liable to such a charge. Violation of this subparagraph is a Class B crime;  
(2) The conduct of the other person has in fact resulted in the charge of murder or a Class A crime or in fact has rendered the other person liable to such a charge or the other person is charged or is liable to be charged with a Class B crime. Violation of this subparagraph is a Class C crime;  
(3) The other person is charged or is liable to be charged with a Class C crime. Violation of this subparagraph is a Class D crime; or  
(4) The other person is charged or is liable to be charged with a Class D or Class E crime. Violation of this subparagraph is a Class E crime;   [PL 2001, c. 667, Pt. D, §17 (NEW); PL 2001, c. 667, Pt. D, §36 (AFF).]
E. Obstructs by force, intimidation or deception anyone from performing an act that might aid in the discovery, apprehension, prosecution or conviction of the other person and:  
(1) The actor knew of the conduct of the other person that has in fact resulted in the charge of murder or a Class A crime or that has in fact rendered the other person liable to such a charge. Violation of this subparagraph is a Class B crime;  
(2) The conduct of the other person has in fact resulted in the charge of murder or a Class A crime or in fact has rendered the other person liable to such a charge or the other person is charged or is liable to be charged with a Class B crime. Violation of this subparagraph is a Class C crime;  
(3) The other person is charged or is liable to be charged with a Class C crime. Violation of this subparagraph is a Class D crime; or  
(4) The other person is charged or is liable to be charged with a Class D or Class E crime. Violation of this subparagraph is a Class E crime; or   [PL 2001, c. 667, Pt. D, §17 (NEW); PL 2001, c. 667, Pt. D, §36 (AFF).]
F. Aids the other person to safeguard the proceeds of or to profit from such crime and:  
(1) The actor knew of the conduct of the other person that has in fact resulted in the charge of murder or a Class A crime or that has in fact rendered the other person liable to such a charge. Violation of this subparagraph is a Class B crime;  
(2) The conduct of the other person has in fact resulted in the charge of murder or a Class A crime or in fact has rendered the other person liable to such a charge or the other person is charged or is liable to be charged with a Class B crime. Violation of this subparagraph is a Class C crime;  
(3) The other person is charged or is liable to be charged with a Class C crime. Violation of this subparagraph is a Class D crime; or  
(4) The other person is charged or is liable to be charged with a Class D or Class E crime. Violation of this subparagraph is a Class E crime.   [PL 2001, c. 667, Pt. D, §17 (NEW); PL 2001, c. 667, Pt. D, §36 (AFF).]
[PL 2001, c. 667, Pt. D, §17 (NEW); PL 2001, c. 667, Pt. D, §36 (AFF).]
1-C.  A person is guilty of hindering apprehension or prosecution if the person hinders the apprehension or prosecution of the other person for a violation of administrative release, probation, supervised release for sex offenders or parole by any means described in subsection 1‑B, paragraphs A to F with the intent to hinder, prevent or delay discovery, apprehension, prosecution, revocation or punishment for the violation. The sentencing class for hindering apprehension or prosecution of the other person is one class less than the crime for which the other person was originally sentenced, except that if the crime for which the other person was originally sentenced is a Class E crime, hindering apprehension or prosecution is a Class E crime.  
[PL 2017, c. 149, §1 (NEW).]
1-D.  A person is guilty of hindering apprehension or prosecution if the person hinders the apprehension or prosecution of the other person for a violation of deferred disposition by any means described in subsection 1‑B, paragraphs A to F with the intent to hinder, prevent or delay discovery, apprehension, prosecution, termination of the period of deferment or punishment for the violation or crime to which the other person originally pled guilty. The sentencing class for hindering apprehension or prosecution of the other person is one class less than the crime for which the other person originally pled guilty, except that if the crime to which the other person originally pled guilty is a Class E crime, hindering apprehension or prosecution is a Class E crime.  
[PL 2017, c. 149, §1 (NEW).]
2. 
[PL 2001, c. 383, §86 (RP); PL 2001, c. 383, §156 (AFF).]
2-A.  Hindering apprehension or prosecution when the other person has committed a crime against another jurisdiction is graded as in subsection 1‑B. For purposes of this subsection, the classification of the crime of the other jurisdiction is determined according to the formula contained in section 4‑A, subsection 3 as if it were a crime of this jurisdiction outside this Code.  
[PL 2001, c. 667, Pt. D, §18 (AMD); PL 2001, c. 667, Pt. D, §36 (AFF).]
3.  As used in subsection 1‑B, "crime" includes juvenile offenses. The sentencing class for hindering the apprehension or prosecution of a juvenile is determined in the same manner as if the juvenile were a person 18 years of age or older, provided that if the offense committed by the juvenile would not have been a crime if committed by a person 18 years of age or older, hindering apprehension or prosecution is a Class E crime.  
[PL 2001, c. 667, Pt. D, §19 (AMD); PL 2001, c. 667, Pt. D, §36 (AFF).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1975, c. 499, §1 (NEW). PL 1977, c. 510, §§60,61 (AMD). PL 1981, c. 317, §23 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 383, §§84,88 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 383, §156 (AFF). PL 2001, c. 667, §§D16-19 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 667, §D36 (AFF). PL 2017, c. 149, §1 (AMD).
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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 13 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1982–2025 · leading case: State of Maine v. William True, 2017 ME 2 (Me. 2017).
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State of Maine v. William True, 2017 ME 2 (Me. 2017). · cites it 2× “§ 151(1)(A) (2015); and hindering apprehension or prosecution (Class B), 17-A M.R.S. § 753(1-B)(C)(1) (2015). [¶ 8] An eleven-day jury trial was held from December 3 through 17, 2014.”
State v. Coombs, 1998 ME 1 (Me. 1998). · cites it 2× “See 17-A M.R.S.A. § 753(1)(C) (1983) (Hindering apprehension or prosecution).”
State of Maine v. Michael R. McNaughton, 2017 ME 173 (Me. 2017). “§ 201(1)(A), (B); and hindering apprehension or prosecution (Class B), 17-A M.R.S. § 753(1-B)(C)(1). 2 [¶8] McNaughton moved to suppress evidence of incriminating statements that he had made during the police interviews as well as the photographic evidence of his injuries.”
State v. Caouette, 446 A.2d 1120 (Me. 1982). “1981)) and for hindering the apprehension and discovery of another person charged with murder (17-A M.R.S.A. § 753(1)(C) (Supp.1981)). Defendant was taken into custody at the Androscoggin County Jail on the afternoon of the day the indictment was returned.”
Sandra Coombs v. State of Maine, 202 F.3d 14 (1st Cir. 2000). “See 17-A M.R.S.A. § 753(l)(c)(1983). 2 . For purposes of Coombs's petition, AEDPA did not meaningfully alter the standard for reviewing determinations of fact.”
State v. Rowe, 480 A.2d 778 (Me. 1984). “On July 14, 1983, a Cumberland County jury found Timothy Rowe guilty of Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution (Class B), 17-A M.R.S.A. § 753(1)(C) & (2) (1983), for his participation in the destruction of evidence relating to a murder committed in Windham.”
State v. French, 179 A.3d 303 (Me. 2018). “French appeals from a judgment convicting her of hindering apprehension (Class D), 17-A M.R.S. § 753(1-B)(A)(3) (2017), obstructing government administration (Class D), 17-A M.”
State v. Nye, 516 A.2d 560 (Me. 1986). “The defendant was charged with one count each of hindering apprehension or prosecution (17-A M.R.S.A. § 753 (1983)), tampering with a witness, informant or victim (17-A M.”
State v. Powers, 489 A.2d 4 (Me. 1985). “17-A M.R.S.A. § 753 (1983). On August 13, 1981, the Superior Court (Aroostook County) accepted defendant’s plea of guilty to that charge.”
State v. Black, 914 A.2d 723 (Me. 2007). · cites it 2× “) for hindering the apprehension of the killers of Julius Petro-vic, appeals from the judgment of conviction for hindering apprehension or prosecution (Class B), 17-A M.R.S. § 753(1-B)(A)(1) (2006). She also appeals from her sentence.”
State of Maine v. Jarae Lipscombe, 2023 ME 70 (Me. 2023). “[¶1] Jarae Lipscombe appeals from a judgment of conviction of hindering apprehension or prosecution (Class B), 17-A M.R.S. § 753(1-B)(B)(1) (2023), entered by the trial court (Kennebec County, Stokes, J.”
State of Maine v. Jarae Lipscombe, 2025 ME 46 (Me. 2025). · cites it 4× “[¶1] A jury convicted Jarae Lipscombe of hindering apprehension or prosecution (Class B), 17-A M.R.S. § 753(1-B)(B)(1) (2025), based on actions that he took to delay or prevent the apprehension of his brother in connection with a homicide in Waterville for which his brother was…”
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— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 17-A, § 753(1)(C) — 3 cases
State v. Coombs, 1998 ME 1 (Me. 1998). “See 17-A M.R.S.A. § 753(1)(C) (1983) (Hindering apprehension or prosecution).”
State v. Caouette, 446 A.2d 1120 (Me. 1982). “1981)) and for hindering the apprehension and discovery of another person charged with murder (17-A M.R.S.A. § 753(1)(C) (Supp.1981)). Defendant was taken into custody at the Androscoggin County Jail on the afternoon of the day the indictment was returned.”
State v. Rowe, 480 A.2d 778 (Me. 1984). “On July 14, 1983, a Cumberland County jury found Timothy Rowe guilty of Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution (Class B), 17-A M.R.S.A. § 753(1)(C) & (2) (1983), for his participation in the destruction of evidence relating to a murder committed in Windham.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 17-A, § 753(l)(c)(1983) — 1 case
Sandra Coombs v. State of Maine, 202 F.3d 14 (1st Cir. 2000). “See 17-A M.R.S.A. § 753(l)(c)(1983). 2 . For purposes of Coombs's petition, AEDPA did not meaningfully alter the standard for reviewing determinations of fact.”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.