STOCKTON — A former Tracy plastic surgeon who faces 67 felony counts of alleged sexual abuse of former patients made his first court appearance in several months today, Aug. 20.

Peter Chi, a Livermore resident, pleaded not guilty in November to the charges, which include 50 counts of sexual battery by fraud, 16 of sexual penetration by foreign object while unconscious and one of lewd acts upon a child. The ages of the alleged victims range from 15 to 63.

Chi, 46, was in court for about five minutes this morning in Stockton to discuss future court dates, because the case is being moved from Judge Charlotte Orcutt’s department and will now be heard by Judge Xapuri Villapudua.

Orcutt said Villapudua might decide to postpone the trial until the judge moves to a courtroom with space for a jury trial, but that decision will be made next week.

Lawyers from both sides are due back in court Friday, Aug. 27, to talk about possibly sealing some of the records in the case, which is scheduled to go to trial in October. Orcutt said Chi does not need to be present until the trial starts.

Chi had a cosmetic surgery practice at Beauty Renewed, 1770 N. Tracy Blvd., before Tracy police arrested him in February 2009. Also last year, Judge Roger Ross in Stockton ordered Chi to turn over his medical license and passport to the court. He remains out of jail on $500,000 bail.

In January, Chi’s insurance company, Evanston Insurance Co., settled with 37 former patients who had filed a civil lawsuit that alleged molestation. The insurance company agreed to pay $1.8 million, which was split between the patients and their lawyers.

About 30 alleged victims did not participate in the civil complaint.

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 830-4223 or jhirsch@tracypress.com.