By Bailey Quinonez

Staff Writer

ROCKVILLE - It began with a series of bad gambling bets and ended with bad timing when chaos and a slew of gun shots left one man dead and another facing life in prison.

After three hours of deliberation a Montgomery County jury found Michael Wayne Adams, 45, guilty of first-degree murder and use of a handgun during a violent crime.

Jason David Hadeed, a 33-year old well-known athletic trainer, was found dead with three gunshot wounds to the back on King Farm Boulevard in Rockville on Feb. 8, 2008. Adams was arrested that same night in Vienna, Va. where police confiscated a .22-caliber semi-automatic handgun.

"My family is simply overwhelmed that the truth was revealed and Jason can now rest in peace," said Paul David Hadeed, Jason's father, as he wiped away a flood of tears after hearing the verdict.

"We are very thankful to the jury. We know this won't bring Jason Hadeed back, but we hope it provides some sense of relief for the community and his family," said Assistant State's Attorney Stephen Chaikin.

Adams, currently held in prison without bond, faces a maximum penalty of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

But for defense attorney Robert Bonsib and Adams' family, the verdict came as a surprise. Bonsib said, "We are disappointed and surprised by the verdict because of what the evidence showed." Dody Pierce, Adam's mother, sat in the courtroom with tears in her eyes, trembling as the verdict was read. Adams' family left quickly after Judge William J. Rowan III dismissed the court.

Bonsib contended in court in his opening statement that Adams feared for his life on Feb. 8 when Hadeed went to Adams' home and "punched him twice in the stomach" before trying to remove a "computer and things" from Adams' apartment.

"When a person is in your home, you are free to use force to repel an intruder," argued defense attorney Bruce Marcus in his closing argument.

Marcus stressed to the jury that Adams is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty, something that he said the state had failed to do and was in fact a clear-cut case of self-defense. "This case in its facts is simple ... [Assistant State's Attorney Damon] Bell admitted in his closing that there was a robbery ... Mr. Hadeed had no right to take the laptop," said Marcus. "If Adams acted in full defense of his home, he is not guilty."

On Feb. 8 Adams placed several bets in hopes of retrieving lost investments that he owed to a number of people, including Hadeed. At 10 p.m. that night, John Jimenez, Adam's "good friend" and "bookie," said that he had just told Adams that several of his bets went sour and that his debt increased by several thousand dollars. Only minutes later Hadeed burst through Adams' door. "I should have never opened that door," said Adams.

In court Adams claimed that Hadeed punched him in the stomach twice and said words "that I cannot repeat." Physical signs of an altercation could not be identified in police photographs taken only hours later at the time of the arrest.

But that Friday night didn't end with punches: Adams retrieved his gun from the kitchen drawer. According to court testimony and forensic evidence, Adams shot Hadeed once in his home and twice more outside. Two more shots were fired that night but the gun jammed.

"It's a simple fact. Jason had bad timing," said Chaikin of the night of Feb. 8.

Adams claims that Hadeed attacked him and he "feared for his life" but Chaikin argued otherwise in his closing argument. "[Adams] lied to you with a wicked heart," said Chaikin. "A wounded man doesn't have the where-with-all to attack again."

Barry and Barbara Gordon, who live only blocks from where Hadeed was found dead, said they heard "You don't have to do this, man" followed by two gun shots. But Adams said that despite witness reports he never heard Hadeed plead for his life.

On Wednesday Marcus argued that Hadeed was a violent man that forced Adams into hiding and into a whirlwind of depression. "Jason knew Mr. Adams was afraid ... and he kept demanding and demanding," said Marcus. "Jason Hadeed was a man of extraordinary strength and prowess ... what wasn't known was Jason Hadeed was a man of two faces."

However, Adams, said witnesses, was a man known for having public "violent" outbursts and on occasion said he was "not afraid of Hadeed" but instead "annoyed" by constant phone calls and text messages after a gambling deal went sour.

"What we have here is a liar who is trying to pull the wool over your eyes," Chaikin said in his closing argument to the jury. "Really, what the defense wants is for you to find Adams guilty of manslaughter. I'm going to be candid here. The tough decision for you is deciding between first and second-degree murder."

In light of the jury's verdict Bonsib said on Monday that the family plans to appeal the verdict after the sentencing. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 30 at 10 a.m.