Far Hills Man Had Sex Acts With Girl While Flying Plane: Report

FAR HILLS, NJ — A Far Hills man has admitted to sexual conduct with an underage girl while in Bedminster and Readington, including while flying a private plane, according to nj.com.

Steven B. Mell, 53, pleaded guilty on Monday to third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, sexual conduct, Acting Hunterdon County Prosecutor Michael J. Williams said.

In June 2018, Mell was arrested after an investigation by the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit found he had engaged in sexual relations with a girl under the age of 16 in Readington and Bedminster Townships, Williams said.

Mell reportedly started having sexual conversations with the girl in May 2017 over text and Snapchat, and even invited her to his Far Hills home, according to federal court records reported by nj.com.

Mell, who has a private pilot license, also reportedly put his private plane on autopilot and engaged in sexual acts with the girl in July 2017 and took nude photos of her, according to nj.com.

As a result of the plane incident, he pleaded guilty in December 2018 to federal charges including child pornography and interstate travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, nj.com reported.

Mell will be sentenced on July 12 by the Honorable Angela F. Borkowski, JSC.

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