SAN DIEGO -- A man accused in the fatal beating of another man at a Bay Terraces independent living facility pleaded not guilty Wednesday to murder and the personal use of a deadly weapon.

Daniel Peter Cruz, 34, was ordered held on $1 million bail.

Cruz had a salt shaker in his hand while he was punching the victim, 59-year-old John Roberts, sometime before 6:30 a.m. Sunday while the victim was apparently sleeping, Deputy District Attorney Allen Brown said.

The victim suffered multiple fractures to his face during the beating, Brown said.

A motive for the attack isn't known, but police said Roberts and Cruz had been involved in an ongoing dispute, the nature of which wasn't clear.

Roberts had been living at New Beginnings Room and Board at 6377 Division St. and Cruz recently moved in, the prosecutor said.

Cruz has a prior robbery conviction from 1999, Brown said.

Judge David Szumowski scheduled a status conference for Monday and a preliminary hearing for August 26.

Cruz faces up to 59 years to life in prison if convicted, according to Brown.