Nutella must have the properties of crack, because this guy allegedly acted like a straight-up junkie over samples of “Nutella waffles” this week, authorities said.

Twenty-four-year-old Derrick Gharabighi was hit with a case this week that alleges suspicion of “elder abuse with the special allegation that he personally inflicted great bodily injury on someone who is more than 70 years old,” according to a statement from the L.A. County District Attorney's Office.

Gharabighi was scolded by a 78-year-old after the younger man took “multiple samples” of the treat from a sample table at Costco in Burbank on Sunday morning, Burbank police said.

“The victim told Mr. Gharabighi that he wanted a sample and he shouldn’t take so many,” Sgt. Claudio Losacco said.

The District Attorney's Office has a slightly different take, stating that “when the elderly victim reached out” for a sample, “Gharabighi took all of them.”

“The victim then said he wanted one of the samples and told Gharabighi not to take so many,” the DA's office said in a statement.

The suspect's response during the 10:50 a.m. confrontation was to strike the old man in the face, cops and prosecutors alleged. The victim, who has since been identified as Sahak Sahakian, sustained facial swelling and a laceration above his left eye, authorities said.


He was hospitalized, treated and released.

Gharabighi was arrested and booked in lieu of $50,000, police said. Yesterday he pleaded not guilty to the DA's case. 

If convicted, the 24-year-old could face 11 years behind bars. His next court date was scheduled for Oct. 2.

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