A judge on Tuesday froze some of the assets of a former CEO of a New Jersey investment firm who put his private plane on autopilot to have sex with a 15-year-old girl.

Steven Bradley Mell, 52, who is serving seven years in federal prison, lived on a 50-acre estate in Bedminster and owned several jets and helicopters, according to the victim’s attorney, Bruce H. Nagel of Roseland.

Mell was sentenced in June after he pleaded guilty to one count of interstate travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct and one count of receipt of child pornography.

Nagel sued Mell on behalf of the victim, who is now 18, and argued in Essex County Superior Court on Tuesday that Mell’s assets should be frozen pending the outcome of the lawsuit.

While Judge Robert Gardner opposed the victim’s request, he ordered that 40% of Mell’s advisory and management fees from a hedge fund company be held in escrow and the other 60% be delivered to Mell’s wife.

The judge also ordered that 60% of Mell’s annual net profit (incentive allocation) payments be placed in escrow with the remaining 40% delivered to Mell’s wife without deductions.

Judge Robert Gardner, who also heard arguments from attorneys representing Mell and his wife, ruled that all of Mell’s assets be frozen and paid into an escrow account, according to Nagel.

”Not only did Mell commit these vile acts, he bragged to his victim that he was giving all of his money to his wife and kids so he would not have to pay her a dime,” Nagel said in an email. “I guess Mell was wrong about that.”

Clarification: This post has been updated to include the specifics of the judge’s order.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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