BURBANK, Calif. — A 24-year-old man has been charged with elder abuse after authorities say he punched a 78-year-old man over free Nutella waffle samples at a Los Angeles-area Costco store.
Prosecutors say Derrick Gharabighi, of Burbank, was charged Tuesday. He pleaded not guilty in an afternoon court appearance.
He is being held on $50,000 bail, and he faces a maximum sentence of 11 years in prison if convicted.
The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office says he was hoarding samples of the waffles at the Burbank Costco on Sunday morning when the 78-year-old told him to take just one.
Prosecutors say Gharabighi then punched the older man in the face.
Police say the senior citizen was hospitalized with a 1-inch cut and swelling above his eye.
According to an Instagram account which police confirmed belongs to Gharabighi, the 24-year-old had aspirations to be a nurse.
Police say he has a history of criminal convictions, which include petty theft and drug possession for sale.
His Instagram account features plenty of selfies and a few drug photos. It’s also now filled with comments from people giving him a taste of the kind of treatment he could expect in prison.
With files from Global News
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