RANCHO SANTA FE — A 19-year-old man accused of a violent attack during a midnight gathering pleaded not guilty Aug. 21.

Nicholas James Zaniboni, a Torrey Pines High School graduate, is charged with a single count each of assault with a deadly weapon and battery on Veerpal Brar after a fight broke out at a residence in the 1700 block of Camino de Montecillo in Rancho Santa Fe.

Both charges carry the enhancement of great bodily injury. Brar received 57 stitches for a laceration across his head.

If convicted, Zaniboni faces up to 11 years in prison, Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Golovato said outside the courtroom.

Superior Court Judge David Danielsen ordered Zaniboni, who’s currently free on a $35,000 bond, back to court Oct. 8 for trial.

Throughout the preliminary hearing witness accounts of the May 10 incident varied.

Donald Johnson, a friend of Zaniboni, testified when he met up with the defendant following the incident that Zaniboni had blood on his face, a scraped up back and was upset. “I thought (the cuts) were pretty bad because I saw a lot of blood,” Johnson said.

Another friend of Zaniboni, Robert “Pete” Johnson said Vikram Gill, whose parents own the house where the alleged attack occurred, appeared to be drunk and was spouting aggressive comments toward his younger sister’s friends. As Zaniboni fled the residence, Johnson said he looked “beaten and terrified.” Once in the driveway, Johnson said Gill pinned Zaniboni up against a wall by this throat.

On the other hand, Gill said he only interfered with his sister’s party after he was awoken by a scream from one of the guests. He said Zaniboni, who was shirtless, and several other young men jumped him when he confronted the young men about the noise. Brar, who Gill said came to his aid, was also jumped and then beaten by Zaniboni with an empty liquor bottle.

As Zaniboni and several other males fled the residence, Gill said the defendant fell as he ran down the concrete driveway. Gill was adamant that he never touched Zaniboni as he fled.

Brar and Gill identified Zaniboni from pictures on the young man’s cell phone that had been left at the scene, according to court documents.