ELYRIA, Ohio -- A Lorain County judge Monday ordered a Sheffield Township couple to pay a Cleveland man more than $1.5 million for trying to frame him for attempted rape and assault.

Joseph Melendez was accused of attempting to rape Gabrielle Bracken at her home, but police said the plan fell through when one of the witnesses confessed that the charges were a lie.

Bracken and her husband, James, were arrested and successfully sued by Melendez for defamation. Neither the couple nor their attorney, Frank Janik III of Amherst, could be reached for comment.

"Melendez is bitter and angry, but thankfully it ended

successfully for him," said Larry Zukerman, Melendez' attorney. "But it could have ended badly. These people not only impugned him, but the entire justice system. It diminishes the testimony of victims by making people question who is telling the truth."

The lawsuit filed by Zukerman says that James Bracken was convinced his wife was having an affair with Melendez and planned to lure him to the house where Bracken would catch Melendez alone with his wife and beat "and possibly kill" him. The plan included claiming that Melendez attacked the woman with a large knife and was trying to rape her when James Bracken would rescue her by attacking Melendez, the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit said on Sept. 23, Gabriella Bracken sent "sexually suggestive text messages" to Melendez and asked him to come to her home.

"Bracken's sister worked for Melendez' cleaning business," Zukerman said. "He considered Gabrielle a friend and thought nothing of it."

Zukerman said when Melendez arrived at the house he was met in the driveway by Gabrielle and her friend, Alana Eisenmann. Then the first strange thing happened.

"Bracken pointed to a knife on the ground in the driveway and asked Melendez to pick it up, which he did," Zukerman said.

The lawsuit said they wanted Melendez' fingerprints on the knife to back up their story that he attacked the woman.

Melendez was led to an upstairs bedroom where he was attacked by James Bracken who was lying in wait, the lawsuit said. The two men fought, Melendez ran outside and got into his car and called police.

When sheriff's deputies arrived, Gabriella Bracken told them Melendez had attacked her with a knife and tried to rape her.

Melendez was arrested, charged with rape and released on bond.

"We started investigating the case and it fell apart," said Zukerman. "Melendez passed a polygraph. We met with the Lorain City Prosecutor and presented the case. He dismissed the charges."

When they left the office, Zukerman said they found the witness, Alana Eisenmann, waiting for them, crying.

"She told us that the Brackens made the whole thing up and wanted her to lie as well," Zukerman said. "That's when the investigation focused on the Brackens."

The couple was charged Dec. 30 with forgery, assault, tampering with records, falsification and criminal damaging. Both are free on bond awaiting trial.

Melendez sued the couple for assault, malicious prosecution and other charges. When they failed to appear in court, Lorain County Common Pleas Judge Christopher Rothgery ruled in favor of Melendez. He ordered them to pay more than $1.5 million in damages.

Whether he can collect is another matter.

"They are young, they have property that can be attached and wages that can be garnished," Zukerman said. "This makes a statement that this is what happens when you try to destroy a man's life."