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

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 17-A, § 802 (2026)

Arson

✓ current as of May 2026
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1.  A person is guilty of arson if he starts, causes, or maintains a fire or explosion;  
A. On the property of another with the intent to damage or destroy property thereon; or   [PL 1975, c. 499, §1 (NEW).]
B. On his own property or the property of another  
(1) with the intent to enable any person to collect insurance proceeds for the loss caused by the fire or explosion; or  
(2) which recklessly endangers any person or the property of another.   [PL 1983, c. 450, §4 (AMD).]
[PL 1983, c. 450, §4 (AMD).]
2.  In a prosecution under subsection 1, paragraph B, the requirements of specificity in the charge and proof at the trial otherwise required by law do not include a requirement to allege or prove the ownership of the property. In a prosecution under subsection 1, paragraph A, it is a defense that the actor reasonably believed he had the permission of the property owner to engage in the conduct alleged. In a prosecution under subsection 1, paragraph A, "property of another" has the same meaning as in section 352, subsection 4.  
[PL 1975, c. 740, §86 (AMD).]
3.  Arson is a Class A crime.  
[PL 1979, c. 322, §2 (AMD).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1975, c. 499, §1 (NEW). PL 1975, c. 740, §86 (AMD). PL 1979, c. 322, §2 (AMD). PL 1983, c. 450, §4 (AMD).
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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 95 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1976–2025 · leading case: State of Maine v. Karl Maine, 2017 ME 25 (Me. 2017).
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State of Maine v. Derek S. Poulin, 2016 ME 110 (Me. 2016). · cites it 3× “§ 201(1)(A), (B) (2015), and arson (Class A), 17-A M.R.S. § 802(1)(A) (2015), entered by the Unified Criminal Docket (York County, O’Neü, J.”
State of Maine v. Karl Maine, 2017 ME 25 (Me. 2017). · cites it 3× “17-A M.R.S. § 802(1) (2016). Here, the State alleged that, pursuant to the first prong of the arson statute, Maine started, caused, or maintained a fire on Sleeper’s property with the intent to damage or destroy it.”
State of Maine v. Randall Daluz, 2016 ME 102 (Me. 2016). · cites it 2× “§ 201(1)(A) (2015), and one count of arson (Class A), 17-A M.R.S. § 802(1)(A) (2015). In his motion for a new trial, Daluz argued-that statements made by counsel for his co-defendarit, Nicholas Sexton, had imper-missibly commented upon Daluz’s race and his decision not to…”
State v. Howes, 432 A.2d 419 (Me. 1981). · cites it 4× “The presiding justice ordered such judgment entered notwithstanding the verdict of a jury which found defendant guilty of the crime of arson committed in violation of 17-A M.R.S.A. § 802. The indictment against defendant, returned on March 5, 1979 to the Superior Court…”
State of Maine v. Matthew R. Davis, 2018 ME 116 (Me. 2018). · cites it 2× “§ 201(1)(A) (2017) ; four counts of arson (Class A), 17-A M.R.S. § 802(1)(A) (2017) ; one count of theft (Class B), 17-A M.”
State of Maine v. Nicholas Sexton, 2017 ME 65 (Me. 2017). · cites it 2× “§ 201(1)(A) (2016), and one count of arson (Class A), 17-A M.R.S. § 802(1)(A) (2016), following a jury trial.”
State v. Naoum, 548 A.2d 120 (Me. 1988). · cites it 4× “Defendant Anthony Naoum appeals from convictions of arson, and conspiracy to commit arson 17-A M.R.S.A. §§ 802, 151 (1983 & Supp.1987), and attempted theft by deception 17-A M.”
State of Maine v. Raymond Bellavance Jr., 2013 ME 42 (Me. 2013). · cites it 5× “appeals from a judgment of conviction of one count of arson (Class A), 17-A M.R.S. § 802(1)(A) or (1)(B)(2) (2012), entered in the trial court (Murphy, J.”
State of Maine v. Oscar Nunez, 2016 ME 185 (Me. 2016). · cites it 2× “) convicting him of one count of arson, 17-A M.R.S. § 802(1)(A) (2015), and two counts of criminal threatening, 17-A M.”
State of Maine v. Anthony Lord, 2019 ME 82 (Me. 2019). · cites it 2× “§§ 208-B(1)(A), 1158-A(1)(B), 1252(5) (2018) ; • Three counts of aggravated assault with the use of a dangerous weapon (Class B), 17-A M.R.S. §§ 208(1)(B), 1158-A(1)(B), 1252(5) (2018) ; • Two counts of theft by unauthorized taking of a firearm (Class B), 17-A M.”
State v. Gurney, 36 A.3d 893 (Me. 2012). · cites it 2× “§ 201(1)(A) (2011), and arson (Class A), 17-A M.R.S. § 802(1)(A) (2011), entered in the Unified Criminal Docket (Cumberland County, Cole, J.”
United States v. Javier Velasquez-Reyes, A.K.A. Javier Alvarado-Hernandez, 427 F.3d 1227 (9th Cir. 2005). “§ 14:52 (2005); Me.Rev.Stat. Ann. tit. 17-A, § 802 (2005); Minn.”
Show all 95 citing cases →
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 17-A, § 802(1) — 5 cases
United States v. Knight, 606 F.3d 171 (4th Cir. 2010).
State of Maine v. Karl Maine, 2017 ME 25 (Me. 2017). “17-A M.R.S. § 802(1) (2016). Here, the State alleged that, pursuant to the first prong of the arson statute, Maine started, caused, or maintained a fire on Sleeper’s property with the intent to damage or destroy it.”
State v. Webber, 613 A.2d 375 (Me. 1992).
State v. Wells, 658 A.2d 654 (Me. 1995).
State of Maine v. Karl Maine, 2017 ME 25 (Me. 2017).
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 17-A, § 802(1)(A) — 28 cases
State of Maine v. Derek S. Poulin, 2016 ME 110 (Me. 2016). “§ 201(1)(A), (B) (2015), and arson (Class A), 17-A M.R.S. § 802(1)(A) (2015), entered by the Unified Criminal Docket (York County, O’Neü, J.”
State of Maine v. Randall Daluz, 2016 ME 102 (Me. 2016). “§ 201(1)(A) (2015), and one count of arson (Class A), 17-A M.R.S. § 802(1)(A) (2015). In his motion for a new trial, Daluz argued-that statements made by counsel for his co-defendarit, Nicholas Sexton, had imper-missibly commented upon Daluz’s race and his decision not to…”
State of Maine v. Karl Maine, 2017 ME 25 (Me. 2017). “17-A M.R.S. § 802(1) (2016). Here, the State alleged that, pursuant to the first prong of the arson statute, Maine started, caused, or maintained a fire on Sleeper’s property with the intent to damage or destroy it.”
State of Maine v. Matthew R. Davis, 2018 ME 116 (Me. 2018). “§ 201(1)(A) (2017) ; four counts of arson (Class A), 17-A M.R.S. § 802(1)(A) (2017) ; one count of theft (Class B), 17-A M.”
State of Maine v. Nicholas Sexton, 2017 ME 65 (Me. 2017). “§ 201(1)(A) (2016), and one count of arson (Class A), 17-A M.R.S. § 802(1)(A) (2016), following a jury trial.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 17-A, § 802(1)(B) — 3 cases
State v. Carr, 1998 ME 237 (Me. 1998).
State v. Henderson, 435 A.2d 1106 (Me. 1981).
State v. Dragon, 521 A.2d 704 (Me. 1987).
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 17-A, § 802(1)(B)(1) — 11 cases
Hanover Ins. Co v. Hayward, 464 A.2d 156 (Me. 1983).
State v. Small, 411 A.2d 682 (Me. 1980).
State v. Carr, 1997 ME 221 (Me. 1997).
State v. Berkley, 567 A.2d 915 (Me. 1989).
State v. Spearin, 463 A.2d 727 (Me. 1983).
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 17-A, § 802(1)(B)(2) — 5 cases
State of Maine v. John A. Weckerly, 2018 ME 40 (Me. 2018).
State v. Barrett, 408 A.2d 1273 (Me. 1979).
State v. Smith, 675 A.2d 93 (Me. 1996).
State of Maine v. Andrew J. Freeman, 2014 ME 35 (Me. 2014).
State v. Carr, 1998 ME 237 (Me. 1998).
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 17-A, § 802(2) — 2 cases
State of Maine v. Troy D. Hastey, 2018 ME 147 (Me. 2018).
State of Maine v. Troy D. Hastey, 2018 ME 147 (Me. 2018).
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 17-A, § 802(3) — 1 case
State v. Cloutier, 646 A.2d 358 (Me. 1994).
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 17-A, § 802(B)(2) — 1 case
State v. Barrett, 408 A.2d 1273 (Me. 1979).
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