LOS ANGELES, Nov. 25 — Charles Manson T-shirts are riding a wave of popularity among surfers and rockers. They’re also putting money in Manson’s pocket.

Manson, serving a life sentence for his role in the 1969 slayings of actress Sharon Tate and six others, receives 10 cents on each $17 T-shirt featuring the cult leader on the front and “Charlie Don’t Surf’ on the back.

“It defies belief,” said Stephen Kay, who prosecuted the Manson “family.” “The kids today weren’t alive at the time and they don’t know how bad Charles Manson was. He’s no folk hero. Anybody who really knows about his beliefs will burn the T-shirts as fast as they can.”

“We did it as a joke. You can’t really see it without laughing,” said Richard Lemmons, co-owner of Zooport Riot Gear of Newport Beach. “I mean, Charlie don’t surf; he’s in prison.”

Lemmons refused to say how much Manson has received since signing a royalty agreement earlier this year. But he said it doesn’t amount to much.

“This gives him enough to buy smokes and Cokes,” he said.

Sometimes, money made off of books, movies or other promo-tions by a criminal must go to a victims fund. But Manson is under no such court order.