Jan 15, 2016 3 min read

WAYNESBURG – A West Waynesburg man accused of stabbing two men during a fight outside a Franklin Township bar in March was convicted on all charges Thursday night, although his defense attorney said the jury didn’t hear the whole story.

Joseph Bryan Adams, 49, of 115 Buchanan Ave., was convicted on two charges of felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and two misdemeanor counts of simple assault in the March 20 stabbing at Buddy’s Tavern.

State police said the stabbing occurred after Adams was ordered to leave the bar on Jennings Avenue. When outside, police said he got into a fight with William Wise and Eric Miller. Adams then pulled out a 3-inch knife from his keychain and stabbed both men multiple times.

Wise suffered three cuts to his left side, one wound to his left arm and another on the right side of his stomach, police said. Miller was stabbed on his right arm and the right side of his chest, leaving deep gouges, police said. Both were taken to the former Southwest Regional Medical Center for treatment.

Investigators found the knife attached to a key ring in Adams’ pocket. He told police the two men attacked him and he stabbed them out of self-defense.

However, both men testified against Adams during the trial, according to Greene County Assistant District Attorney Christina DeMarco, who prosecuted the case. DeMarco said the jury deliberated for about an hour Thursday night before convicting Adams following the one-day trial before Greene County President Judge Farley Toothman.

“I’m pleased with the efforts of the jury to find the defendant guilty,” DeMarco said.

Adam’s public defender, Harry Cancelmi, argued that someone attacked his client during the altercation and he suffered a black eye, bruises to his face and head and sore ribs. He did not blame the two victims for causing those injuries, but said state police should have continued their investigation to find who assaulted Adams outside the bar.

“There’s a part of it that hasn’t been investigated, and that’s how he was beat up and who beat him up,” Cancelmi said. “How did Mr. Adams suffer all of these injuries? He was pummeled and that’s why he lashed out and stabbed (the victims). Someone was taking the law into their own hands and no one investigated it.”

Adams remains at the Greene County while awaiting his sentencing.