8.165 Attempted Aggravated Sexual Abuse (18 U.S.C. Sec. 2241(a)) is an offense under federal law that prohibits any person from attempting to use force or threat of force against another person in order to commit a sexual act. It includes any attempt to cause bodily harm to the victim, or to threaten to do so. This crime is considered to be an aggravated form of sexual abuse as opposed to the lesser offense of attempted sexual abuse. There are two types of 8.165 Attempted Aggravated Sexual Abuse (18 U.S.C. Sec. 2241(a)) offenses: • Attempted Aggravated Sexual Abuse by Force or Threat of Force — This type of offense occurs when a person attempts to use physical force, or the threat of physical force, to compel another to engage in a sexual act. This type of offense does not require that the person actually succeeds in committing the intended act, only that they attempt to do so. • Attempted Aggravated Sexual Abuse by Coercion — This type of offense occurs when a person attempts to use psychological pressure or coercion, such as blackmail or intimidation, to compel another to engage in a sexual act. Again, this offense does not require that the person actually succeeds in committing the intended act, only that they attempt to do so.