{"data":{"id":"us-me/17-a-m.r.s.-851","jurisdiction":"us-me","citation":"17-A M.R.S. §851","heading":"Definitions","body":"As used in this chapter:\n1.   \"Prostitution\" means engaging in, or agreeing to engage in, or offering to engage in a sexual act or sexual contact, as those terms are defined in section 251, in return for a pecuniary benefit to be received by the person being prostituted or a 3rd person;\n1-A.   \"Engages a  person for prostitution\" means providing, offering to provide or agreeing to provide, either to the person who is sought for an act of prostitution or to a 3rd person, pecuniary benefit in return for a sexual act or sexual contact as those terms are defined in section 251;\n2.   \"Promotes prostitution\" means:\nA.  Causing or aiding another to commit or engage in prostitution, other than as a patron;\nB.  Publicly soliciting patrons for prostitution. Publicly soliciting patrons for prostitution includes, but is not limited to, an offer, made in a public place, to engage in a sexual act or sexual contact, as those terms are defined in section 251, in return for a pecuniary benefit to be received by the person making the offer or a 3rd person;\nC.  Providing persons for purposes of prostitution;\nD.  Leasing or otherwise permitting a place controlled by the defendant, alone or in association with others, to be regularly used for prostitution;\nE.  Owning, controlling, managing, supervising or otherwise operating, in association with others, a house of prostitution or a prostitution business;\nF.  Transporting a person into or within the State with the intent that such other person engage in prostitution; or\nG.  Accepting or receiving, or agreeing to accept or receive, a pecuniary benefit pursuant to an agreement or understanding with any person, other than with a patron, whereby the person participates or the person is to participate in the proceeds of prostitution.","path":["TITLE 17-A: MAINE CRIMINAL CODE","PART 2: SUBSTANTIVE OFFENSES","CHAPTER 35: SEX TRAFFICKING, PROSTITUTION AND PUBLIC INDECENCY"],"source_url":"https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/17-A/title17-Asec851.html","current_through":"January 1, 2026","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-04T15:12:28Z","sha256":"5ce95e30528f164e4917305a83d1ad48d63e396fe31a437afd0d2d4184fd75d1","source_id":"us-me","stale":false,"prev":"us-me/17-a-m.r.s.-807","next":"us-me/17-a-m.r.s.-852"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}