State Guide
Age of Consent in Maine
A plain-English guide to the age of consent in Maine, cited to 17-A M.R.S. § 254. A genuine close-in-age allowance exists for 14 and 15 year olds, but none at all under 14.
Close-in-age allowance under 5 years, ages 14–15 onlyMaine at a glance
The core figures from this guide, in one place.
| Age of consent | 16 |
|---|---|
| Governing statute | 17-A M.R.S. § 254 (Sexual Abuse of Minors) |
| Close-in-age mechanism | Not covered below a 5-year gap, victim 14–15 only |
| Age-based defense, if any | None needed — statute simply doesn’t apply below the gap |
| Related offense | Gross sexual assault, victim under 14 — 17-A § 253 (no allowance) |
Overview
Maine sets its age of consent at 16. Sexual activity with anyone under 14 is gross sexual assault under 17-A M.R.S. Section 253, a Class A crime with no age-gap exception of any kind, even for another teenager.
A separate statute, Section 254, sexual abuse of minors, covers a victim who is 14 or 15, but only where the actor is at least five years older. Below that gap, Section 254 does not apply. This is Maine’s genuine close-in-age allowance, and it exists only at this specific age band.
Age of consent in Maine
Section 254(1)(B) makes it sexual abuse of minors, a Class D crime, for someone at least five years older to engage in a sexual act with a 14 or 15 year old. Section 253(2)(B) makes any sexual act with someone under 14 a Class A crime, with no comparable age-gap provision.
Close-in-age rules in Maine
Section 254’s five-year threshold applies only to a victim 14 or 15. If the actor is less than five years older, this statute does not reach the conduct.
Exceptions and defenses
Both statutes exclude the actor’s spouse. Maine layers additional protections on top of the general age rules: a parent, guardian, or similar caregiver engaging in a sexual act with anyone under 18 commits a Class B crime; a school employee with instructional or supervisory authority over a student under 18 faces charges regardless of the student’s age within that range; and a teacher who is at least 10 years older than a 16 or 17 year old student faces an enhanced charge. None of these authority-based provisions depend on the age-gap allowance described above.
Applicable statutes
The codified Maine law this guide is drawn from.
Practical examples
Example 1. A 15-year-old and an 18-year-old, a three-year gap. Because the gap is under five years, Section 254 does not reach this conduct.
Example 2. A 14-year-old and a 20-year-old, a six-year gap. This meets the five-year threshold, so sexual abuse of minors applies, a Class D crime.
Example 3. A 13-year-old and a 15-year-old, a two-year gap. Because the victim is under 14, Section 253 applies regardless of the gap, a Class A crime.
Frequently asked questions about Maine
What is the age of consent in Maine?
16. Below that age, 17-A M.R.S. Sections 253 and 254 apply different rules depending on the victim’s specific age.
Does Maine have a Romeo and Juliet law?
Yes, for a narrow band. Section 254 does not apply to a 14 or 15 year old victim if the actor is less than five years older. This allowance does not exist for a victim under 14.
Does this allowance apply if the victim is 13?
No. Section 253 applies to anyone under 14 with no age-gap exception at all, even between two teenagers.
Does a position of authority change anything?
Yes. Parents, guardians, school employees, and certain caregivers face separate charges regardless of the age gap, and some carry enhanced penalties for a large age difference with a 16 or 17 year old student.
Are married couples treated differently?
Yes. Both Section 253 and Section 254 exclude the actor’s spouse from coverage.
Official sources
Primary and official sources this guide is built from.
Two age bands, two different rules
Maine’s allowance exists at only one of its two age tiers.
| Victim age | Rule |
|---|---|
| Under 14 | Gross sexual assault, any gap, Class A |
| 14 or 15 | Only covered if actor is 5+ years older |
About this guide
Who wrote it, who reviewed it, and when it was last checked.
RomeoAndJulietLaw.com Editorial Team
Drafted from the Maine Revised Statutes, cross-checked against multiple official Maine Legislature sources.
Pending attorney review
This guide has not yet been checked by a licensed Maine attorney. It is sourced and cited, but should not be treated as attorney-reviewed until this line is updated with a named reviewer.
Primary source for this guide
Editorial notes
This guide reflects the Maine Revised Statutes as of 26 July 2026. It has not yet been reviewed by a licensed Maine attorney; treat it as sourced and current-as-drafted, not as attorney-verified, until the reviewer field above is updated.