LD 1354
pg. 25
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LR 540
Item 1

 
2.__Proceeding by indictment.__Property subject to
forfeiture that is not yet the subject of a final order
pursuant to section 395 may be proceeded against by indictment
or superseding indictment of a grand jury in any related
criminal proceeding in which one or more persons with an
interest in the property have been simultaneously indicted for
one or more violations of this chapter.__At any time prior to
trial, the State, with the consent of the court and any
defendant with an interest in the property, may file an
ancillary charging instrument or information alleging that
that property is subject to criminal forfeiture.__Upon
commencement of a criminal forfeiture by indictment or
information of any property that may be the subject of any
pending civil action commenced pursuant to section 395, the
civil action must be immediately stayed and subrogated to the
criminal forfeiture action.__Discovery in the criminal action
must be as provided by the Maine Rules of Criminal Procedure.

 
3.__Seizure upon finding of probable cause. Property subject
to forfeiture that has not already been seized but has been
indicted by a grand jury pursuant to this section may also be
ordered seized based upon the grand jury's finding of probable
cause pursuant to section 395.

 
4.__Trial against property. Trial against property charged
by indictment or information may be by jury and must be held
in a single proceeding together with the trial of the related
criminal violation.__Forfeiture of the property must be proved
by the State by a preponderance of the evidence.__The court,
in its discretion, may allow any defendant with an interest in
property indicted pursuant to this section to waive the right
to trial by jury as against the property while preserving the
right to trial by jury of any crime alleged.__At trial by
jury, the court, upon motion of a defendant or the State, may
separate the trial of the matter against the defendant from
the trial of the matter against the property subject to
criminal forfeiture.__If the court bifurcates the jury trial,
the court shall first instruct and submit to the jury the
issue of the guilt or innocence of defendants to be determined
by proof beyond a reasonable doubt and shall restrict argument
of counsel to those issues.__After a verdict upon the guilt or
innocence of all defendants, the court shall instruct and
submit to the jury the issue of the forfeiture of the property
to be determined by proof by a preponderance of the evidence
and the court shall restrict argument to those issues.__A
special verdict must be returned as to the extent of the
interest in property subject to forfeiture, if any.

 
5.__Person interested in forfeited property.__A person not
charged in the indictment may not intervene in the criminal
action.__Following the entry of a verdict of forfeiture of


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