The former Delano police chief has entered a no contest plea to a sex charge.

Mark DeRosia entered the plea Friday to a misdemeanor charge of annoying or molesting a child under the age of 18 and was sentenced to one year’s probation, 240 hours of community service, and mandatory counseling. He must also register as a sex offender for 10 years. The plea deal will keep DeRosia out of jail.

De Rosia was caught in March 2024 after he engaged in online sex talk with a Kern County Sheriff’s deputy posing as a 15-year-old.

He was dismissed without cause from Delano PD in 2017.