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PUBLIC LAWS OF MAINE
Second Special Session of the 121st

PART B

     Sec. B-1. 17 MRSA c. 93-B, as amended, is repealed.

     Sec. B-2. 17-A MRSA §253, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2001, c. 383, §14 and affected by §156, is further amended to read:

     1. A person is guilty of gross sexual assault if that person engages in a sexual act with another person and:

     Sec. B-3. 17-A MRSA §255-A, sub-§1, ¶¶E-1 and F-1 are enacted to read:

     Sec. B-4. 17-A MRSA §256, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 72, §1, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

§256. Visual sexual aggression against child

     1. A person is guilty of visual sexual aggression against a child if:

     Sec. B-5. 17-A MRSA §258, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 143, §1, is amended to read:

     1. A person is guilty of sexual misconduct with a child under 14 years of age if that person, having in fact attained 18 years of age, knowingly displays any sexually explicit materials to another person, not the actor's spouse, who has not in fact attained the age of 14 years, with the intent to encourage the other person to engage in a sexual act or sexual contact. Violation of this subsection is a Class D crime.

     Sec. B-6. 17-A MRSA §258, sub-§1-A is enacted to read:

     1-A. A person is guilty of sexual misconduct with a child under 12 years of age if that person, having in fact attained 18 years of age, knowingly displays any sexually explicit materials to another person, not the actor's spouse, who has not in fact attained 12 years of age, with the intent to encourage the other person to engage in a sexual act or sexual contact. Violation of this subsection is a Class C crime.

     Sec. B-7. 17-A MRSA §258, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 143, §1, is amended to read:

     2. As used in this section, "sexually explicit materials" means any book, magazine, print, negative, slide, motion picture, videotape or other mechanically reproduced visual material that the person knows or should know depicts a person, minor or adult, engaging in sexually explicit conduct, as that term is defined in Title 17, section 2921, subsection 5 281.

     Sec. B-8. 17-A MRSA §258, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 143, §1, is repealed.

     Sec. B-9. 17-A MRSA §259, sub-§1-A, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 383, §25 and affected by §156, is amended to read:

     1-A. A person is guilty of soliciting a child by a computer to commit a prohibited act if:

Violation of this subsection is a Class D crime.

     Sec. B-10. 17-A MRSA §259, sub-§1-B is enacted to read:

     1-B. A person is guilty of soliciting a child by a computer to commit a prohibited act if:

Violation of this subsection is a Class C crime.

     Sec. B-11. 17-A MRSA §259, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 349, §3, is repealed.

     Sec. B-12. 17-A MRSA c. 12 is enacted to read:

CHAPTER 12
SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF MINORS

§281. Definitions

     As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.

     1. "Disseminate" means to manufacture, publish, send, promulgate, distribute, exhibit, issue, furnish, sell or transfer or to offer or agree to do any of these acts.

     2. "Minor" means a person who has not attained 18 years of age.

     3. "Photograph" means to make, capture, generate or save a print, negative, slide, motion picture, computer data file, videotape or other mechanically, electronically or chemically reproduced visual image or material.

     4. "Sexually explicit conduct" means any of the following acts:

§282. Sexual exploitation of minor

     1. A person is guilty of sexual exploitation of a minor if:

     2. The following mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment apply to sexual exploitation of a minor.

The court may not suspend a minimum term of imprisonment imposed under this section unless it sets forth in detail, in writing, the reasons for suspending the sentence. The court shall consider the nature and circumstances of the crime, the physical and mental well-being of the minor and the history and character of the defendant and may only suspend the minimum term if the court is of the opinion that the exceptional features of the case justify the imposition of another sentence. Section 9-A governs the use of prior convictions when determining a sentence.
§283. Dissemination of sexually explicit material

     1. A person is guilty of dissemination of sexually explicit material if:

Section 9-A governs the use of prior convictions when determining a sentence.

     2. For the purposes of this section, possession of 10 or more copies of any of the materials as described in subsection 1 gives rise to a permissible inference under the Maine Rules of Evidence, Rule 303 that the person possesses those items with intent to disseminate.

§284. Possession of sexually explicit material

     1. A person is guilty of possession of sexually explicit material if that person:

Section 9-A governs the use of prior convictions when determining a sentence.

     2. It is a defense to a prosecution under this section that the person depicted was the spouse of the person possessing the sexually explicit material at the time the material was produced.

     3. The age of the person depicted may be reasonably inferred from the depiction. Competent medical evidence or other expert testimony may be used to establish the age of the person depicted.

     4. Any material that depicts a person who has not attained 14 years of age engaging in sexually explicit conduct is declared to be contraband and may be seized by the State.

§285.    Forfeiture of equipment used to facilitate violations

     1. Upon a finding of guilt of any violation of this chapter, but prior to sentencing, an attorney for the State may, in writing, move the court for an order requiring the forfeiture to the State of any equipment, including computers, that may have facilitated the commission of the offense. Notice of the motion must be made by the State to the defendant and any party of interest; this notice must be done by registered mail.

     2. If contesting the forfeiture, the defendant or other party-in-interest in the in rem civil forfeiture proceeding may request a jury trial. Absent that request, the proceeding must be before the court.

     3. At the jury trial or court hearing, the State has the burden of proving to the fact finder by a preponderance of the evidence that the equipment was used in violation of this chapter.

     4. Upon a finding by a preponderance of the evidence that the equipment was used to facilitate the commission of a violation of this chapter, the court shall order the equipment forfeited and may, upon the written recommendation of the attorney for the State, provide in its order for the disposition or use of the equipment by any state, county or municipal law enforcement agency that made a substantial contribution to the investigation or prosecution of the case. Any equipment forfeited that is not transferred to an investigating or prosecuting agency must be sold and the proceeds deposited in the General Fund.

     5. The Attorney General may adopt by rule guidelines regulating the disposition and use of property forfeited or sought for forfeiture under this section. Rules adopted under this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

     Sec. B-13. 17-A MRSA §1152, sub-§2-C, as amended by PL 2001, c. 439, Pt. OOO, §2, is further amended to read:

     2-C. As part of At the time the court imposes a sentence, the court shall order every natural person who is a convicted sex offender or sexually violent predator, of a sex offense or a sexually violent offense as defined under Title 34-A, section 11203 to satisfy all requirements set forth in the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act of 1999.

     Sec. B-14. 17-A MRSA §1202, sub-§1-A, ¶A, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 788, §2, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

     Sec. B-15. 17-A MRSA §1202, sub-§1-A, ¶B, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 788, §2, is amended to read:

     Sec. B-16. 17-A MRSA §1202, sub-§1-A, ¶C is enacted to read:

     Sec. B-17. 17-A MRSA §1203, sub-§1-A, ¶B, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 788, §4, is amended to read:

     Sec. B-18. 17-A MRSA §1231, sub-§2, ¶A, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 788, §7, is amended to read:

     Sec. B-19. 17-A MRSA §1252, sub-§4-B, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 788, §8, is amended to read:

     4-B. If the State pleads and proves that the defendant is a dangerous repeat sexual assault offender, the court, notwithstanding subsection 2, may set a definite period of imprisonment for any term of years.

     Sec. B-20. 17-A MRSA §1252, sub-§§4-C and 4-D are enacted to read:

     4-C. If the State pleads and proves that a Class A crime of gross sexual assault was committed by a person who had previously been convicted and sentenced for a Class B or Class C crime of unlawful sexual contact, or an essentially similar crime in another jurisdiction, that prior conviction must be given serious consideration by the court in exercising its sentencing discretion.

     4-D. If the State pleads and proves that a crime under section 253, subsection 1, paragraph C or under section 282, subsection 1, paragraph C or F was committed against a person who had not attained 12 years of age at the time of the offense, the age of the victim must be given serious consideration by the court in exercising its sentencing discretion.

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