AUBURN — A Mechanic Falls man pleaded guilty Monday to assault in connection with a stabbing that left a Lewiston man hospitalized last year with multiple wounds.

Willie Richard Minor, 49, of 12 Dunlop Ave. was accused of stabbing John P. Beeler, who was 27 years old last summer. Beeler told the Sun Journal last year he was summoned by a woman who wanted his help in dealing with her ex-boyfriend.

Beeler was stabbed five times with a kitchen knife, he said.

Minor was indicted in November by an Androscoggin County grand jury on one count of elevated aggravated assault and a count of aggravated assault, both felonies.

On Monday, the first count was dismissed and the second count was reduced to misdemeanor assault. Minor was sentenced to 364 days in jail with all but 64 days suspended. He was credited with time already served. He also was given one year of probation.

He was not released from jail, though. A clerk said he is being held on other charges unrelated to this case.

A prosecutor said Monday that the case didn’t go to trial because a critical witness couldn’t testify for the prosecution.