An Act To Increase the Penalties for a Person Who Vandalizes Cemetery Property
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 1244
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Sponsors: SNOWE-MELLO, BLAIS, COLLINS, GLYNN, HEIDRICH, MOORE, MURPHY
Amends: 15 MRSA §3314

Legislative Document 
No. 1244 
H.P.918 
House of Representati ves, March 6, 2003 
An Act To Increase the Penalties for a Person Who Vandalizes 
Cemetery Property 
Reference to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety suggested and ordered 
printed. 
Presented by Representative SNOWE-MELLO of Poland. 
Cosponsored by Senator BLAIS of Kennebec and 
/J'l~ /J1·711~~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: COLLINS of Wells, GLYNN of South Portland, HEIDRICH of Oxford, 
MOORE of Standish, MURPHY of Kennebunk. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 15 MRSA §3314, sub-§I, 'B-1 is enacted to read: 
B-1. 
Notwithstanding paragraph B, if a minor is adjudicated 
as having committed an offense that if committed by an adult 
would be a violation of Title 17-A, section 507-A, the court 
shall reguire the minor to perform at least 8 hours per week 
of community service work for the cemetery for 2 consecutive 
summers 
following 
the 
adjudication, 
commencing 
the 
week 
after 
school 
ends 
and 
ending 
the 
week 
before 
school 
commences, 
if applicable. 
Upon 
completing the 
community 
service work, the minor shall submit to the court proof that 
the community service work was performed. 
Sec. 2. 15 MRSA §3314, sub-§I, 'E-l is enacted to read: 
E-l. 
Notwithstanding paragraph E, if a minor is adjudicated 
as having committed an offense that if committed by an adult 
would be a violation of Title 17-A, section 507-A, the court 
shall 
reguire 
the 
minor 
or 
the 
minor's 
family 
to 
pay 
restitution for all damages. 
Upon completing payment of the 
restitution, the minor or the minor's family shall submit to 
the court proof that the restitution was paid. 
Sec. 3. 17 -A MRSA §507 -A, sub-§3, as enac ted by PL 1987, c. 
326, §2, is amended to read: 
3. 
Any person who violates subsection 1 commits a Class D 
cr ime. 
In addition to any other penalty, the court shall impose 
a sentencing alternative involving restitution for all damages, 
except as provided in section 1325, 
subsection 2, 
and shall 
impose at least 5 hours per week of community service work for 
the cemetery for one year. 
Upon completing the restitution and 
community service work sentencing alternatives, the person shall 
submit to the court proof that the restitution has been paid and 
the community service work performed. 
SUMMARY 
This bill provides mandatory penalties that a court shall 
impose on a person convicted of vandalizing a cemetery. 
If the 
violator is a minor, the court shall require the violator or the 
violator's family to pay restitution and require the violator to 
perform 8 hours of community service per week for the cemetery 
for 
consecutive 
summers 
following 
the conviction. 
If the 
violator is an adult, the court shall require the violator to pay 
restitution and to perform 5 hours of community service for the 
cemetery per week for one year. 
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