Courtroom sketch showing Jeffrey Epstein at his bail hearing in New York on July 15th, 2019.

A federal judge on Thursday denied bail to wealthy investor Jeffrey Epstein, citing the potential danger to "new victims" from his apparently "uncontrollable" sexual fixation on young girls, and the risk that Epstein would flee to avoid prosecution for child sex trafficking charges.

The decision by Judge Richard Berman means that the 66-year-old Epstein will remain in jail pending trial in the case, where he faces up to 45 years in prison if convicted.

Berman, in a damning written order released hours after a hearing in U.S. District Court in Manhattan where he verbally announced his bail ruling, said that lewd photos of young women found in Epstein's mansion are troubling, as is evidence that he tried to influence the potential testimony of accusers and people who allegedly abetted his conduct.

"This newly discovered evidence also suggests that Mr. Epstein poses 'ongoing and forward-looking danger,'" the judge wrote. "Mr. Epstein's dangerousness is considerable and includes sex crimes with minor girls and tampering with potential witnesses."

In the order, Berman said, "Mr. Epstein's alleged excessive attraction to sexual conduct with or in the presence of minor girls — which is said to include his soliciting and receiving massages from young girls and young women perhaps as many as four times a day — appears likely to be uncontrollable."

"I doubt any bail package could overcome dangerousness ... to community," Berman said during the hearing, agreeing with the recommendation by prosecutors to keep Epstein locked up.

Berman said that risk was "the heart of this decision" to deny the financier release on bond.

He noted that two women who claim they were abused by Epstein gave "compelling testimony" at a court hearing Monday, where they had expressed "fear for their safety."

"The Court is also concerned for new victims," Berman added in his written order.

The judge also called Epstein's proposal for bail "irretrievably inadequate."

Epstein, a former friend of presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, had asked Berman to release him on a bond as much as $100 million or more.

Epstein had also suggested strict bail conditions, which could include requiring him to remain in his New York City mansion, round-the-clock security monitoring, and an electronic tracking device.

Berman, countered, however, that prosecutors had established that Epstein could be dangerous by "clear and convincing evidence," and had shown by a "preponderance" of evidence that he could flee.

The judge noted Epstein's "great wealth and his vast resources," which include private planes and a residence in Paris.

Berman also said Epstein's possession of a passport issued by Austria worried him.

That expired passport has Epstein's photo but a different name on it, as well as a stated residence in Saudi Arabia. It was used in the 1980s for travel, according to prosecutors.

In a letter Thursday, Epstein's lawyers said he was given the passport by a friend at a time when "some Jewish-Americans were informally advised at the time to carry identification bearing a non-Jewish name when traveling internationally in case of hijacking."

"He never used the document to travel internationally and never presented it to any immigration or customs authority. The passport stamps, predating his receipt of the document, do not reflect Mr. Epstein's entries or exits," the lawyers wrote.

Berman's decision denying bail additionally noted that Epstein recently made payments to potential witnesses against him, that there have been allegations that Epstein failed to comply with requirements for registered sex offenders, and that agents of his intimidated witnesses in a prior investigation.