A man pleaded guilty Oct. 19 to assault with a deadly weapon involving the stabbing of a gay man last February in the Hillcrest restaurant formerly known as Hamburger Mary’s, now Urban Mo’s.

Matthew James Witt, 30, also known as Matthew Morrissey, faces a maximum sentence of one year in county jail for the stabbing of Danny Player, 28. Player was stabbed in the stomach and hand after he left the restaurant on Feb. 15 and after earlier exchanging words with Witt, who had been talking to Player’s boyfriend.

San Diego Superior Court Judge David Danielsen set sentencing for Nov. 22. Witt, who lives in La Mesa, remains free on $15,000 bond on condition he have no contact with Player and his boyfriend.

Witt’s attorney, Ron Rockwell, said it was likely Witt would be placed on probation. Court records say the prosecutor did not object to a sentence with a work furlough center in which Witt could be free to go to work but would be locked up at night and on weekends. A prison term has been ruled out.

According to testimony in the preliminary hearing, Witt arrived at the restaurant with his girlfriend and struck up a conversation with Player’s boyfriend, Dennis Yrkoski, who worked at Hamburger Mary’s at the time. Yrkoski testified Witt asked him what time he got off work and hugged him three times. Yrkoski said he wondered if Witt was coming on to him.

Player testified he went over to Witt and said, “Respect my relationship, dude.”

According to Player, Witt responded by saying: “Oh, no, man. I’m straight. Chill out, girl.”

Player testified he left the restaurant and walked past Witt, and was then stabbed on the sidewalk without provocation.

Witt pleaded guilty to the strongest charge. The other remaining count, battery with serious injury, was dismissed. A judge dismissed a mayhem charge at the preliminary hearing.

Player suffered a serious injury to his hand and initially thought he would lose some of its function. But he testified surgery had repaired torn nerves, muscles and tendons, so the mayhem charge was dropped.