A person generally commits the criminal offense of public lewdness or lewd conduct in public if the person knowingly engages in any of the following acts in a public place—or, if not in a public place, the person is reckless about whether another is present who will be offended or alarmed by the person’s (1) act of sexual intercourse; (2) act of deviate sexual intercourse; (3) act of sexual contact with a person’s own private parts or those of another.

Public lewdness laws vary from state to state, and some states define and charge such criminal offenses under indecent exposure laws. Public lewdness is usually a misdemeanor offense, but may be a felony offense under some circumstances. And in some states a conviction for public lewdness may require the defendant to register as a sex offender.

In Maine, the criminal offense of public lewdness is generally referred to as indecent conduct and is covered under Maine Revised Statutes Title 17-A, Section 854. A person is guilty of indecent conduct if they intentionally or knowingly expose their genitals under circumstances that they know are likely to cause affront or alarm, or engage in a sexual act in a public place. The term 'sexual act' encompasses sexual intercourse, deviate sexual intercourse, and sexual contact, which aligns with the acts described in the topic. Indecent conduct in Maine is classified as a Class E crime, which is a misdemeanor. However, the law also provides for increased penalties if the person has prior convictions for the same conduct. While indecent conduct is typically a misdemeanor, certain factors, such as the presence of minors, could potentially elevate the severity of the offense. It's important to note that Maine's sex offender registration laws may require individuals convicted of certain sex-related crimes to register as sex offenders, but this depends on the specific nature of the offense and the court's determination.