STOCKTON — Nearly one year after his arrest, the criminal sexual molestation trial of former Tracy plastic surgeon Peter Chi is scheduled to begin Oct. 25, San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge Charlotte Orcutt ruled today.

Chi pleaded not guilty in November to 67 felony counts of alleged sexual abuse of former patients—50 counts of sexual battery by fraud, 16 of sexual penetration by foreign object while unconscious and one count of lewd act upon a child. The alleged victims’ ages range from 15 to 63.

Chi was absent from today’s proceedings at the Stockton courthouse, but Orcutt said Chi must appear in court when the trial begins in October. She said there’s no need for his presence at a scheduled Aug. 9 court date to review any motions filed, or at the Sept. 27 readiness conference.

Chi, a Livermore resident, had a cosmetic surgery practice at Beauty Renewed, 1770 N. Tracy Blvd., before Tracy police arrested him last Feb. Last year, Judge Roger Ross ordered Chi to turn over his medical license and passport to the court. He remains out of jail on $500,000 bail.

A gag order issued by Orcutt last year prevents anyone involved with the case from speaking with the media.

•Contact Tracy Press reporter Jaclyn Hirsch at 830-4274 or jhirsch@tracypress.com.