NEWTON ? The first court appearance for a pharmacist accused of drawing blood from people for a bogus study has been delayed one week and reset for a plea.

Corey Penner, 29, was originally scheduled to appear in Harvey County District Court this Friday on 31 counts of misdemeanor battery. His lawyer, Jim Gillmore, on Monday waived Penner’s first appearance, and the case was set for plea March 22. It was not clear what Penner’s plea would be.

Penner, a former pharmacist with Dillons pharmacy, is accused of drawing blood samples and taking blood pressure readings from dozens of women and at least one man during the past 11 years. He said he was conducting a health study, which authorities say did not exist. The complaint alleges 19 women were victimized by the bogus study.