Judge guts key evidence in Melvin trial defense Associated Press Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Updated 11:51 am, Tuesday, February 12, 2013 The defense attorneys hoped that evidence would convince an Allegheny County jury that Melvin didn't commit the crime of theft of services — because they contend the "services" in question were handling court cases.