Manny The Hippie
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| Wednesday, August 28, 1996 · Page A13 | © 1996 San Francisco Chronicle |
Manny the Hippie Freed,
Glen Martin, Chronicle Staff Writer
Says He'll Face His Past
An ebullient Manny the Hippie was sprung from San Francisco County Jail yesterday, and vowed to clean up his act, concentrate on his career and pay for past mistakes.
``My lawyer rocks!'' exclaimed Manny, slinging an arm around his attorney. ``Yeah! John Rappaport!''
``Uh, that's Doug Rappaport,'' corrected the attorney gently.
The 20-year-old counterculturalist said it felt good to inhale a deep lungful of fog-cooled San Francisco air after a week in the stuffy confines of the county slammer. Then he tried to bum a cigarette from reporters.
Manny -- otherwise known as Micah Papp -- became an overnight sensation when he was featured on the David Letterman show during the late night talk show host's recent visit to San Francisco.
But an Ohio warrant for a pot bust probation violation stunted the young celebrity's meteoric career climb, and he ended up in jail.
He was scheduled to be sent back to the Buckeye State yesterday, but the sheriff's office declined to make the arrangements at the last moment, saying it was up to Ohio's authorities to come out and get him.
So who posted his $5,000 bail? His mom? Letterman? His extremely solicitous agent, Mitchell Solarek, who showed up at the Hall of Justice to escort Manny back to his office?
``I'm, uh -- really not at liberty to say, OK?'' Manny murmured.
Manny did reveal that he intends to go back to Ohio to face the music.
``I just want to tell the kids,'' Manny said earnestly, ``that you can't run away from your problems. It only makes it worse.'' Manny said that he intends to pursue a career in entertainment and that he expects to appear on Letterman's show soon.
Solarek encouraged that line of thought, claiming the world still craves Manny.
``I don't think the interest in him has died,'' said Solarek. ``I doubt (the drug charge) will mess things up. That's the past. We're negotiating with MTV and `Saturday Night Live.' He wants to make a positive impact with young people.''