STATEN ISLAND -- A Staten Island jury has convicted former Linden police officer Pedro Abad on all charges, including aggravated vehicular homicide, in the deaths of the two men in his car when he crashed while driving drunk the wrong way on a highway two years ago.

On the most serious charge of aggravated vehicular homicide, Abad, who is 29, could receive anywhere from 8 1/3 to 25 years in prison.

Jury deliberations took just over three hours after a three-week trial.

After the verdict was read, Abad had no reaction except to stroke his beard.

Roseann Rodriguez, the sister of one of the victims, began to sob and embraced another person in the courtroom. She had nearly fainted as she was reentering the courtroom after it was announced the jury had a verdict.

Abad's lawyer, Mario Gallucci, argued that Abad should remain free until sentencing on June 8, but the judge decided to remand him. Abad was placed in cuffs and taken into custody. His aunt had accompanied him to court.

Gallucci called his client a "tough man."

"Pedro knew going into this that this was going to be difficult case. He wanted to roll the dice and he did," Gallucci said. "He didn't have any memory of what happened and now he says God told him what happened and he deserves to be punished."

Gallucci said after the verdict was announced, Abad turned to him and said, "'I'm at peace. Now I know.'"

Authorities said Abad had a blood-alcohol level of .24 at the time when he drove the wrong way on the West Shore Expressway on March 20, 2015 after leaving Curves, a strip club in Staten Island. He crashed head-on into a tractor-trailer at 4:50 a.m.

Fellow Linden officer Frank Viggiano and Linden resident Joseph Rodriguez, both 28, were killed in the crash.

A third Linden officer, Patrik Kudlac, then 23, was also in the car and was critically injured. He was forced to resign from the department because of his injuries. Abad was later fired because his injuries prevented him from returning to work.

Abad was found guilty of nine charges, including aggravated vehicular homicide and second-degree manslaughter in the deaths of Rodriguez and Viggiano, and counts of aggravated vehicular assault and second-degree assault for the injuries to Kudlac.

He was also convicted of reckless endangerment for the threat caused to a truck driver he passed on the highway before he crashed into the tractor-trailer. The truck driver also testified, saying Abad's car was driving the wrong way down the middle of the two lanes of the highway.

Kudlac testified during the trial that he could no longer be a cop because of his injuries. He also unbuttoned his shirt and showed the jury the scars that remain on his stomach and said he cannot lift anything heavier than 10 pounds.

The case centered on two questions: whether Abad was driving and whether he was legally drunk.

Gallucci conceded that Abad was behind the wheel and focused his defense on questioning the accuracy of Abad's reported .24 BAC level.

Gallucci said those who tested about Abad's blood alcohol content were not aware of what life-saving medications Abad was given prior to the blood being drawn, but a nurse for the prosecution said blood is drawn before any medications are given.

Gallucci also said no witnesses testified that Abad appeared drunk. Several Curves employees did testify that he was a regular at the strip club.

Assistant District Attorney Mark Palladino played a dashcam video taken by a limo driver who had to swerve around Abad, two videos that show Abad's car driving the wrong way and a reenactment video of the route he took, which passes several "Do Not Enter" signs.

A paramedic who treated Abad after the crash also testified that there was a "very, very, very" strong odor of alcohol on him. A toxicologist hired by the prosecution and one hired by Abad's attorney both testified that Abad's blood alcohol content was well over the legal limit.

Palladino said the only explanation for how Abad drove past drivers going the opposite way, and for how he allegedly sped up and appeared never to brake in the crash, is because he was "obliterated."

Angelo Rodriguez, the father of Joseph Rodriguez who died in the crash, said Abad had forced his family to endure 26 months since the crash to get justice.

"We were dragged through this trial. He didn't want to take a plea deal. This is just another chapter in this horrible journey," Angelo Rodriguez said, fighting back tears as he stood holding the arm of his daughter and Joseph's sister, Roseann Rodriguez. "The driver of the car ... I don't even want to mention his name. He took my son's life that morning. And he took Mr. and Mrs. Viggiano's son's life. Okay? We'll never get them back."

Mark Mannuzzo, a friend of the Rodriguez family who was in court when the verdict was announced, said afterward that he expected Abad to be convicted. He also commented on Abad's daily reading of Bible passages as he entered the courthouse.

"Honestly, I thought the Bible readings were all a bunch of BS," Mannuzzo said.

Moments after the verdict was read, Linden Police Chief Jonathan Parham issued a statement: "Frank & Joe were taken from us too soon, and while their proceedings may be behind us, there is no verdict that can take away the emptiness and pain we feel. We continue to pray for the Viggiano and Rodriguez families, and hope that all those affected by this tragedy can find some closure in this decision as they continue to cope with their loss."

"I hope this brings closure to a very sad chapter in our city's history," added Linden Mayor Derek Armstead.

Staten Island District Attorney Michael McMahon, in a statement after the verdict, said Abad chose to "get behind the wheel while he was heavily intoxicated."

"Today's top-count conviction ensures that Mr. Abad will spend many years behind bars and that he is held accountable for the devastation he has caused," McMahon said, lauding the work of the prosecutors. "We hope and pray that this verdict gives some closure to the families and friends of all the victims affected by this tragedy."

Abad gave a rambling statement to reporters as he entered the courthouse on Thursday, saying he is repulsed by his former lifestyle.

"The person I am now, I look back and it's disgusting," Abad said when asked about his prior drunk-driving arrests and his habit of going to Curves.

Abad said in prison, he will "try to be a pastor of some sort" to his fellow prisoners.

He struggled to explain what he would say to the families of Viggiano and Rodriguez, who were in Abad's car died in the crash.

"The Viggiano and Rodriguez families," he said, then paused several seconds to find the words. "I am very upset with the person I was. I'm not fully aware of what are and are not my fault. But I am sorry that all this happened. This should not have happened. I pray and talk to Frank and Joe every single day."

Tom Haydon may be reached at thaydon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Tom_HaydonSL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Jessica Remo may be reached at jremo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessicaRemoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.