The criminal penalties that you could face, if you get convicted for theft by deception, depend on the value of the property that was taken.
| Value of Property | Class of Crime | Jail Time | Fines | Statute |
| Under $500 | Class E Misdemeanor | Up to 180 days | Up to $1,000 | 17A §354 (1)(B) |
| $500 – $1,000 | Class D Misdemeanor | Up to 1 year | Up to $2,000 | 17A §354 (1)(B)(5) |
| $1,000 – $10,000 | Class C Felony | Up to 5 years | Up to $5,000 | 17A §354 (1)(B)(4) |
| Over $10,000 | Class B Felony | Up to 10 years | Up to $20,000 | 17A §354 (1)(B)(1) |
If the property that gets stolen is a firearm or explosives you’ll face a felony theft charge, shown at the bottom row of the table. Things also change if you have two prior theft convictions.
If this is the case, and you’re facing a new charge for petty theft – under $500 of property stolen – then you’ll face charges and penalties for a Class C felony, rather than for a Class E misdemeanor.
These are only the criminal sanctions that you would face, if convicted for theft by deception. You could also face a civil lawsuit by the owner of the property, looking to recover the value of what was taken.
This makes it important to determine the value of what was stolen. Maine sees an items value as how much it would sell for, not the sentimental value to the person whom lost the stolen item/items.
This prevents the owner of the taken property from claiming that it was worth far more than it actually was, simply because there was an emotional attachment the stolen property.
