Former Park City attorney sentenced to prison after probation violation

Third Judicial District Court District. Photo: Will Scadden // Townlift

SUMMIT COUNTY — Former Park City attorney Joseph “Joe” Wrona was sentenced Friday to up to 15 years in prison after a judge found he willfully violated probation by contacting his adult daughter, whom he was previously convicted of sexually abusing.

After an internet outage at the courthouse delayed the trial one week, Wrona appeared shackled in Summit County’s 3rd District Court on Dec. 19. The trial resulted in Judge Richard Mrazik ruling to reimpose the original one-to-15-year prison sentence tied to Wrona’s 2023 felony convictions for sexual abuse and incest involving his biological daughter.

Under a plea agreement reached in January 2024, Wrona served jail time, agreed to lifetime sex offender registration, and accepted a permanent no-contact order prohibiting any communication with his daughter. After Wrona was released early for good behavior, prosecutors said he violated those terms in September 2025 by sending her a letter while traveling in Florida.

According to court records, Wrona had permission to travel out of state to obtain a scuba diving instructor’s license. While there, he mailed a letter to his daughter using a different name, a move prosecutors said demonstrated planning and deception.

Wrona admitted in court that he sent the letter but described it as an impulsive decision fueled by nostalgia. He told the court that scuba diving in Florida reminded him of “positive memories” he once shared with his daughter and led him to reach out, hoping she might someday be open to communication.

“I hope she can accept my heartfelt apology for sending that communication,” Wrona said. “I will never contact her again.”

Prosecutors strongly disputed that characterization. Summit County prosecutor Joseph Hill called the letter “manipulative” and “diabolical,” noting Wrona would have needed to locate his daughter’s address to send it and pointing to previous admissions that Wrona had viewed her social media.

“That conduct, which includes impersonation of another person, demonstrates that you are not a good candidate for supervision in the community,” Mrazik said.

In a victim impact statement, Wrona’s daughter said receiving the letter was a “gut shot” that left her feeling unsafe in her own home. She described fear that Wrona was following her said she considered buying a gun or leaving town without telling friends or family.

“All he had to do was leave me alone,” she wrote. “My future should no longer suffer because of this man’s actions.”

Defense attorney Earl Xaiz acknowledged the seriousness of the violation but argued the letter did not include threats and urged the court to impose jail time rather than prison, with stricter probation conditions and revoked travel privileges. He noted Wrona had not contacted his daughter from March 2022 until September 2025.

Mrazik rejected that request, finding Wrona had “willfully violated” probation and exhausted his opportunity for rehabilitation.

“I encourage you to use your time in confinement to reflect and to repent,” the judge said.

Wrona was expected to be transferred to the Utah Department of Corrections in the following days. Mrazik imposed an indeterminate sentence of one to 15 years. The Utah Board of Pardons and Parole will decide when, or if, Wrona is eligible for release within that range.

He remains permanently barred from contacting his daughter and has 30 days to appeal the ruling.