In a packed courtroom, Vinzen Matthew Williams, 21, was sentenced Sept. 14 to one year in county jail and ordered to attend anger management classes for twice punching a lesbian musician outside a Mission Beach restaurant after she had hugged and kissed her girlfriend.

Rhythm Turner, 25, suffered a broken nose and broken eye socket in the 10:30 p.m. incident on May 14. She documented her injuries in a video on YouTube, which received over 10,000 hits.

Turner, a singer and guitarist, told Williams “alcohol is not an excuse” after Williams’ attorney, Paul Rodriguez, said he was drunk at the time.

Williams’ projected release date is Dec. 15, according to the sheriff’s department as he received credits for 183 days already spent in jail from San Diego Superior Court Judge Kathleen Lewis which includes time off for good behavior. Lewis placed Williams on five years probation, banned him from any contact with Turner or her performances, and fined him $1,204.

Williams was ordered to abstain from alcohol for five years, attend the Museum of Tolerance program, complete a substance abuse program, and pay $1,127 in probation supervision costs, according to court records. He pleaded guilty May 29 to felony assault.

Turner and others told police that Williams saw Turner hug and kiss her girlfriend at 3105 Ocean Front Walk and he asked them if they were lesbians. Williams asked the couple to kiss again and slapped Turner when she told him loudly to leave. He then punched her twice in the face.

“It was clear I was in a relationship with my girlfriend when we were in a moment,” said Turner to the judge. “He asked me to do things before him.”

The judge looked at the photos of Turner’s battered face during her comments. “This is a huge impact to the entire LGBT community. Lesbians are often victimized,” said Turner.

Turner said “the scars will be there forever” from the broken bones in her face, and she has had several surgeries to repair the damage. “I want all my brothers and sisters to feel safe,” she added.

Turner’s mother, Sandra Turner, said there was “an outpouring of love and support” from the GLBT community since the incident.

“I’m very proud of my daughter. She has a right not to live in fear,” said Sandra Turner.

“The brutal actions of this man’s fist...will not heal soon.

These wounds take much longer to heal,” said Sandra Turner. “We have to hold ourselves up and be brave.”

The singer lost several high paying performances while recuperating from her injuries, said Laura Payne, her business partner in the Rhythm and the Methods Band. There was “untold amount of potential income” after Turner had to cancel some performances, said Payne.

“A band is a lot like a family. Rhythm is such a strong leader.

Now she has to think twice before she does things,” said Payne. “We’re more vigilant.”

Deputy District Attorney Amy Colby said Williams was not remorseful, and seemed “concerned how the sentence would affect his life.”

The judge said she agreed with Colby, saying “it’s very clear he has no remorse, no empathy for the victim, according to the probation report.”

“Mr. Williams was not targeting one specific group or people,”

said his attorney, who repeatedly said Williams was not anti-gay.

Rodriguez said the felony conviction “will follow him for the rest of his days” and unsuccessfully urged he serve the rest of his sentence in an alcohol residential treatment program.

“He does need treatment for his alcohol issue. He has some positive qualities,” said Rodriguez.

A psychological evaluation of Williams stated he was immature and self-centered, but was capable of complying with probation conditions. He has no desire to harm women, gays, or lesbians, according to the evaluation.

The sentence comes at a bad time for his disabled mother, who attended the sentencing in a wheelchair. Williams had been living with his younger brother and sister and mother in Spring Valley, but they were evicted in Sept., and Williams won’t be able to help move their belongings, said Williams’ mother to officials in his probation report.

Williams’ father abandoned his family when he was 10 years old, and Williams has helped take care of his siblings since. He has worked as a carrier for the San Diego Union-Tribune and also at Macy’s, but was unemployed when he injured Turner.

Rodriguez said he was depressed due to his family’s finances.

Williams is serving his sentence at the George Bailey Detention Facility.