(12) Harassment, as set forth in section 506-A;

(13) Violation of a protection order, as specified in Title 5, section 4659, subsection 2; Title 15, section 321, subsection 6; former Title 19, section 769, subsection 2; former Title 19, section 770, subsection 5; Title 19-A, section 4011, subsection 3; and Title 19-A, section 4012, subsection 5; or

(14) A violation of a sex offender registration provision under Title 34-A, chapter 11 or 13; and

Sec. 2. 17-A MRSA §352, sub-§5, ¶D, as amended by PL 1995, c. 224, §2, is further amended to read:

D. If the value of property or services cannot be ascertained beyond a reasonable doubt pursuant to the standards set forth above in this subsection, the trier of fact may find the value to be not less than a certain amount, and if no such minimum value can be thus ascertained, the value is deemed to be an amount less than $1,000 $500.

Sec. 3. 17-A MRSA §362, sub-§2, ¶A, as amended by PL 1995, c. 224, §3, is further amended to read:

A. The value of the property or services exceeds $10,000 $5,000;

Sec. 4. 17-A MRSA §362, sub-§3, ¶A, as amended by PL 1995, c. 224, §4, is further amended to read:

A. The value of the property or services is more than $2,000 $500 but not more than $10,000 $5,000; or

Sec. 5. 17-A MRSA §362, sub-§4, ¶B, as amended by PL 1995, c. 224, §5, is further amended to read:

B. The value of the property or services exceeds $1,000 $250 but does not exceed $2,000 $500.

Sec. 6. 17-A MRSA §362, sub-§5, as amended by PL 1995, c. 224, §5, is further amended to read:

5. Theft is a Class E crime if the value of the property or services does not exceed $1,000 $250.

Sec. 7. 17-A MRSA §703, sub-§2, ¶¶A and B, as amended by PL 1995, c. 224, §6, are further amended to read:

A. A Class B crime if the face value of the written instrument or the aggregate value of instruments exceeds $10,000 $5,000;

B. A Class C crime if:

(1) The face value of the written instrument or the aggregate value of instruments exceeds $2,000 $500 but does not exceed $10,000 $5,000; or

(2) The actor has 2 prior convictions for any combination of theft, violation or attempted violation of this section, violation or attempted violation of section 702 or 708 or any violation or attempted violation of section 401 if the intended crime within the structure is theft, or any violation or attempted violation of section 651. Determination of whether a conviction constitutes a prior conviction for purposes of this subsection is pursuant to section 362, subsection 3-A; or

Sec. 8. 17-A MRSA §708, sub-§4, ¶¶A to D, as amended by PL 1995, c. 224, §7, are further amended to read:

A. A Class B crime, if the face value of the negotiable instrument exceeds $10,000 $5,000;

B. A Class C crime, if:

(1) The face value of the negotiable instrument exceeds $2,000 $500 but does not exceed $10,000 $5,000; or

(2) The actor has 2 prior convictions for any combination of theft, a violation of section 702, 703 or this section, a violation of section 401 in which the crime intended to be committed inside the structure is theft, a violation of section 651 or attempts at these violations. Determination of whether a conviction constitutes a prior conviction for purposes of this subsection is pursuant to section 362, subsection 3-A;

C. A Class D crime, if the face value of the negotiable instrument exceeds $1,000 $250 but does not exceed $2,000 $500; or

D. A Class E crime, if the face value of the negotiable instrument does not exceed $1,000 $250.

Sec. 9. 17-A MRSA §805, sub-§1, ¶¶A and B, as repealed and replaced by PL 1995, c. 625, Pt. A, §20, are amended to read:

A. Damages or destroys property of another in an amount exceeding $2,000 $500 in value, having no reasonable ground to believe that the person has a right to do so;

B. Damages or destroys property in an amount exceeding $2,000 $500 in value, to enable any person to collect insurance proceeds for the loss caused;

SUMMARY

This bill lowers the monetary threshold for the classification of theft crimes. This bill brings the monetary threshold in line with those of other New England states. This bill also treats theft and burglary thresholds in a more equal manner.