SUMMIT COUNTY — Joseph “Joe” Wrona, a former attorney from Park City, was sentenced on Friday to a prison term of up to 15 years after a judge determined he intentionally violated probation. This violation involved contacting his adult daughter, whom he had previously been convicted of sexually abusing. The trial was delayed for a week due to an internet outage at the courthouse, after which Wrona appeared in shackles at Summit County’s 3rd District Court on December 19. Judge Richard Mrazik decided to reimpose the original sentence of one to 15 years due to Wrona's felony convictions for sexual abuse and incest involving his biological daughter from 2023. Under a plea agreement made in January 2024, Wrona had served jail time, agreed to register as a lifetime sex offender, and accepted a permanent no-contact order barring any communication with his daughter. After being released early for good behavior, he violated these terms in September 2025 by sending her a letter while in Florida. Wrona had permission to travel out of state to obtain a scuba diving instructor’s license. During this trip, he mailed a letter to his daughter under a different name, which prosecutors argued showed intent and premeditation. In court, Wrona admitted to sending the letter but claimed it was an impulsive act driven by nostalgia. He expressed a desire for reconciliation, saying he hoped his daughter would accept his apology. Prosecutors, however, characterized the letter as manipulative and highlighted that Wrona had previously accessed his daughter's social media. During the proceedings, Wrona's daughter described receiving the letter as deeply distressing and stated that it made her feel unsafe in her own home. Defense attorney Earl Xaiz acknowledged the seriousness of the violation but argued for jail time instead of prison, emphasizing that Wrona had not contacted his daughter for several years. Judge Mrazik denied this request, stating that Wrona had willfully violated probation and had exhausted his chances for rehabilitation. Wrona is set to be transferred to the Utah Department of Corrections, where he will serve the imposed sentence, with the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole determining his eligibility for release. He remains permanently barred from contacting his daughter and has 30 days to appeal the ruling.