The Canyon County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) has arrested three individuals in connection with a coordinated effort to smuggle methamphetamine into the Canyon County Detention Center. The investigation resulted in the arrests of:
- Maria Isabel Calderon, 38, of Caldwell
- Alexandra Lynnae Crawford, 27, of Nampa
- Joshua Paul Taylor, 41, of Caldwell
Calderon and Crawford, both inmates at the facility during the smuggling attempts, are each being held on $2,000,000 bonds. The two women are facing felony charges of Conspiracy to Deliver a Controlled Substance, Introduction of Major Contraband into a Correctional Facility, and Possession of a Counterfeit Substance with Intent to Deliver.
Taylor, the outside accomplice responsible for delivering the drugs, is being held on $250,000 bond. Taylor is facing felony charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver, and Destruction of Evidence.
Summary of Investigation
On November 19, 2025, CCSO uncovered information indicating there would be an attempt to introduce methamphetamine into the Dale Haile Detention Center in the coming days. The information led CCSO to launch a surveillance operation. Surveillance units observed Taylor approach an area outside of the detention center’s laundry facility and place a bag in a secluded area. After Taylor left the area, deputies immediately recovered 4.5 grams of methamphetamine and replaced it with a decoy bag.
When Calderon and Crawford were completing their regular duties as inmate laundry workers, surveillance video captured Calderon retrieving the decoy bag and handing it to Crawford, who concealed it on her person. Upon returning to the facility, Crawford was searched, interviewed, and admitted to concealing the baggie in her clothing, which was subsequently recovered.
Later that day, Taylor was located and taken into custody during a traffic stop. While being transported to jail, Taylor attempted to hide an additional bag of methamphetamine in the patrol vehicle.
Sheriff Kieran Donahue noted this incident underscores the poor design and age of the Canyon County Detention Center. The current layout—which does not include a perimeter fence—forces deputies to escort inmate workers outside the facility for routine tasks such as meal transport, transporting laundry, retrieving supplies, and moving inmates to court. This creates opportunities for contraband drops and increases risk to both inmates and staff.
“This incident is a clear example of how the outdated design of our jail continues to jeopardize the safety and security of everyone inside,” said Sheriff Kieran Donahue. “Our deputies did exceptional work identifying and intercepting this crime, but the reality is that no amount of vigilance can fully overcome the inherent vulnerabilities of this facility. We have been sounding the alarm on these risks for years, and this case demonstrates exactly why upgraded infrastructure is urgently needed.”
Jail Commander Captain Harold Patchett praised the diligence of staff and reiterated ongoing concerns about facility limitations.
“Our team acted quickly, professionally, and effectively to stop a dangerous narcotics pipeline before it could fully take root,” Patchett said. “But this incident also highlights the daily challenges our staff face because of the building’s design. Anytime we have to move inmates outside the facility, it creates opportunities for criminal activity and increases risk for deputies. The safety of this community, our staff, and the inmates entrusted to our care depends on replacing a facility that is long past its functional life.”
Sheriff Donahue added, “This emphasizes the importance of our partnership with the Board of County Commissioners to build a new 192-bed women’s facility on the county-owned property on Pond Lane.”
As previously discussed on the public record and in the local media, the women’s facility is only the initial phase. The county plans to add additional beds in future years and move the entire jail operations to the Pond Lane property once funding can be secured. This location would provide the county with a modern, safe, and secure facility, severely limiting the opportunities for bad actors to smuggle contraband into the detention facility or otherwise put our community and the taxpayers at risk.
“For at least five years now, I’ve been asking the Idaho Legislature to step up and give counties a real way—such as a local option tax—to fund jail construction. It’s not a new concept and has been done in Idaho before in the early 2000s.” Sheriff Donahue said. “Sheriffs are required by law to run jail facilities, yet the Legislature still hasn’t provided a workable funding mechanism. This is just one more unfunded mandate counties are forced to absorb while our ability to fund critical infrastructure keeps getting restricted. It’s disappointing, and frankly, property taxpayers across Idaho are tired of being the ones left holding the bill.”
Donahue added, “The Idaho Legislature continues to stall any efforts to provide relief and have instead spent their political capital passing unrealistic tax cuts that are crippling public safety efforts statewide. Idahoans deserve better.”
For more information on the impact of Idaho’s recent tax cuts, we encourage you to read ‘New report shows 5 years of Idaho income tax cuts have reduced state revenue by $4 billion’ by Clark Corbin at the Idaho Capital Sun.