LATHROP — The trial of former Lathrop teacher Michael Berchtold likely won’t begin until early July, according to court officials.

Deputy District Attorney Kristine Marie Reed said Berchtold’s trial would have to wait for the conclusion of an unrelated jury trial she’s prosecuting before any action can be taken in his case.

On May 22, the prosecution and defense met and agreed to return at 8:15 a.m. June 19 in Department 25 of San Joaquin County Superior Court in Stockton to decide the next step.

Berchtold, a former third-grade teacher at Widmer Elementary School, faces two counts of lewd acts upon a child and six counts of child molestation. Court documents report he’s accused of molesting four of his students between August 2007 and June 2008 inside his classroom.

The court held Berchtold to answer on the charges after four of the alleged 9-year-old victims testified against him during a preliminary hearing in October 2008.

To get Berchtold’s trial under way, the first step is securing a courtroom to host it, Reed said. Considering the circumstances of the case, both legal counsels would also likely issue a questionnaire to potential jurors, which also takes time.

Testimony should begin in about a month, Reed said.

• Contact reporter Denise Ellen Rizzo at

239-6351, ext. 304 or denise@sunpost.net.