The trial of former Lathrop teacher Michael Berchtold on molestation charges will continue as planned May 18, according to a decision made at a hearing in San Joaquin County Superior Court in Stockton.

Deputy District Attorney Kristine Marie Reed and defense attorney Albert Ellis agreed last week to start jury trial selection at 8:15 a.m. May 18 in Department 25 in Stockton, according to a courthouse spokeswoman. The trial was scheduled to begin in March but was delayed after both attorneys announced scheduling conflicts.

Berchtold, a former third-grade teacher at Widmer Elementary School in Lathrop, faces two counts of lewd acts upon a child and six counts of child molestation.

According to court documents, he’s charged with molesting four of his students between Aug. 1, 2007, and June 30, 2008, inside his classroom.

San Joaquin County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Berchtold in July 2008 after he turned himself in on an arrest warrant for the molestation charges. Four 9-year-olds allegedly victimized by the suspect testified against Berchtold during a preliminary hearing in October 2008.

He remains out of jail but is expected to appear at all pretrial proceedings, including jury selection.

•Contact reporter Denise Ellen Rizzo at 239-6351, ext. 304, or denise@sunpost.net.