Wrong-Way Drunk Driver Sentenced to Life in Prison for Crash That Killed 20-Year-Old Gabriela Gonzales

CANYON COUNTY, Idaho — Kaleb Lancaster has been sentenced to life in prison with 26 years before becoming eligible for parole for the drunk-driving crash that killed 20-year-old Gabriela Gonzales and injured two others earlier this year.

On February 6, 2026, Lancaster got behind the wheel of his Ford F-250 with a blood alcohol content of .253—more than three times the legal limit—and drove the wrong way down Interstate 84 between Nampa and Caldwell. He struck a sedan driven by Gonzales’ boyfriend, killing Gonzales, who was a passenger in the vehicle, and seriously injured her boyfriend. Lancaster also injured another individual in a different vehicle.

At sentencing, members of Gonzales’ family delivered emotional victim impact statements. “Not only did Lancaster take her life, he completely destroyed our whole family,” Gonzales’ sister told the Court. “She had a beautiful soul.”

Deputy Prosecutor Virginia Bond asked the Court to sentence Lancaster to life in prison with 35 years fixed. “He stole Gabriela’s life,” Bond told the Court. “This is every parent’s worst nightmare.”

Lancaster’s attorney asked the Court to impose a 30-year sentence with parole eligibility after 10 years. Ultimately, Judge VanderVelde imposed a life sentence. Under the terms of the sentence, Lancaster will not be eligible for parole for 26 years. “This is not a wrong that can be cured or fixed. She is gone and we cannot bring her back,” Judge VanderVelde said.

Canyon County Prosecutor Chris Boyd thanked the Idaho State Police for their investigation into the case. “This defendant’s selfish decision to drink and drive stole the life of a beautiful young woman with her whole life ahead of her,” said Boyd. “No sentence can ever bring Gabriela back to her loved ones, but this sentence sends a strong message that drunk drivers will not be tolerated in our community.”

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Prosecutor Moves to Dismiss Trespass Citation for First Amendment Considerations

Caldwell, Idaho — Canyon County Prosecuting Attorney Christopher Boyd has moved to dismiss State of Idaho v. Titus N. Folks, Case No. CR14-26-10419.
The infraction arose from a trespass citation at a permitted, publicly advertised event at Lakeview Park in Nampa. Titus Folks set up a table in a reserved portion of the park, spoke with participants, and attempted to hand out flyers. Event organizers asked him to leave and called police. Officers told him he could relocate outside the reserved area and issued a citation only after he requested one.

A public park is a traditional public forum. After reviewing the evidence and applicable precedent, the Prosecuting Attorney concluded that a permit for an event that is open to the public does not give the permit holder unfettered discretion to exclude a person from that forum for the content of his speech. While Folks could be properly required to relocate his table, he could not be precluded from speaking with and handing flyers out to participants at the event based upon the content of his speech.

“The officers handled a difficult situation professionally and in good faith,” Boyd said. “That does not change the constitutional analysis. The First Amendment does not yield to a permit or a preference. It is the enduring promise of American liberty that no citizen will be silenced in a public forum for the content of his speech.”

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Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Failure to Report Death of 12-Day-Old Son, Concealing Evidence

Caldwell, Idaho — Brian Lemke, 32, was sentenced today by Judge Thomas Whitney to a unified sentence of 15 years for Failure to Report a Death and Destruction or Concealment of Evidence in connection with the death of his 12-day-old son.

On December 16, 2025, at approximately 3:30 a.m., Lemke called 911 to request that a coroner be dispatched to a residence, where the infant was found deceased in a bassinet in the living room. The Canyon County Coroner’s Office determined that the infant had died sometime between 11:00 p.m. on December 15, 2025, and 2:00 a.m. on December 16, 2025, while co-sleeping in bed with the child’s mother, Allyssen Armenta, and Lemke, inside a travel trailer located in the backyard of the residence of a family associate.

Investigators determined that after discovering the infant deceased, Lemke moved the child’s body from the travel trailer to the primary residence, where he swaddled the infant and placed him in the bassinet. Lemke then called 911. Armenta hid in the travel trailer for approximately an hour and a half during this time before being located by law enforcement.

In the two days prior to the infant’s death, Child Protective Services had contacted the Nampa Polie Department to assist them in locating Lemke and Armenta, as well as the infant. Neither law enforcement nor CPS had been able to locate the couple because they would not disclose their location.

Judge Whitney sentenced Lemke on both charges to fifteen years unified. He will be eligible for parole after six.

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For more information, please contact the Director of Constituent Services, Steve Cushman at (208) 614-5011

Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Sexually Abusing Multiple Children

Caldwell, Idaho — Jose Gutierrez-Bejar, 39, was sentenced on Wednesday to life in prison by Judge Randall Grove for Lewd Conduct with a Minor Under Sixteen. Gutierrez-Bejar must serve a minimum of 25 years before he is eligible for parole.

Gutierrez-Bejar pleaded guilty to one count of Lewd Conduct with a Minor Under Sixteen. Gutierrez-Bejar had consistently sexually abused four children ages 5 to 8 over a period of several years. The abuse involved coercion and force.

Deputy Prosecutor Virginia Bond had asked the court to impose a sentence of 40 years, with 20 years fixed before parole eligibility. Before imposing the sentence, Judge Grove addressed the defendant stating, “As long as you’re in prison, I know where you are. I know you can’t threaten or harm any young girls from there.”

Canyon County Prosecutor Christopher Boyd thanked his team and the judge. “This was horrific, ongoing abuse. It is good to see justice done and the courage of the victims recognized.” Boyd also thanked the Caldwell Police Department for their diligent work in bringing the defendant to justice.

For more information, please contact the Director of Constituent Services,
Steve Cushman at (208) 614-5011

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Boise Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Lewd and Lascivious Conduct

Caldwell, Idaho –Third Judicial District Judge Matthew Roker sentenced Nicky L. Delgado, a 41-year-old
Boise man, to 25 years in prison for the sexual abuse of two children July 16, 2026. Earlier this year,
Delgado was found guilty of two counts of Lewd and Lascivious Conduct by a Canyon County jury. At
that jury trial, both victims testified that the abuse had lasted for years.

Deputy Prosecutor Stephanie Morse asked the court to impose a fifty-year sentence with eighteen years
before Delgado would be eligible for parole. “The sentence imposed by the Court today cannot erase
the past or undo the profound harm the Defendant inflicted upon these children. It cannot restore the
childhoods he took from them. But it can ensure that the Defendant—not his victims—bears the lasting
consequences of his choices.“ Morse said.

Delgado’s attorney asked the court to impose a sentence of probation, arguing that Delgado had lived a
mostly law-abiding life and owns his own business. Judge Roker disagreed that probation was an
appropriate sentence, however, Roker sentenced Defendant to a term of 25 years, with 7 years before
he will be eligible for parole.

“While we are disappointed with the sentence in this case, we applaud the bravery of the young
survivors in coming forward and testifying.” Canyon County Prosecutor Chris Boyd said. Boyd also
thanked the Caldwell Police Department for their investigation.

For more information, please contact the Director of Constituent Services,
Steve Cushman at (208) 614-5011

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GREENLEAF MAN SENTENCED TO THIRTY-FIVE YEARS IN PRISON FOR ABUSING TODDLER

Caldwell, Idaho – Gabriel McCarthy sentenced 40-year-old David Smith to a thirty-five-year unified prison sentence for abusing the toddler son of one of his friends. The two-year-old victim suffered extensive bruising all over his body from blunt force trauma; a hemorrhage in one eye; and injuries to his abdomen and genitals. At the time of the abuse, Smith was on probation for felony driving under the influence.

In court Tuesday, Deputy Prosecutor Virginia Bond asked Judge McCarthy to impose a thirty-five-year sentence, with fifteen years fixed before Smith would be eligible for parole. Smith’s attorney asked the Court to impose treatment court or a period of retained jurisdiction instead. Smith gave a statement to the court but never admitted responsibility for harming the child.

Judge McCarthy sided with the State, imposing the thirty-five-year unified sentence. Judge McCarthy also imposed an underlying ten-year prison sentence in the DUI case for which Smith had been on probation. The Court ordered that Smith serve his sentence on the DUI case before beginning the sentence on the child abuse case, meaning the two sentences will run consecutively.

“This predator brutally abused a young toddler. I hope that with this prison sentence, he never sees the light of day again,” Canyon County Prosecutor Chris Boyd said. “I would like to thank the Wilder Police Department for their diligent work in bringing him to justice.”

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For more information, please contact the Director of Constituent Services,
Steve Cushman at (208) 614-5011

REPEAT GANG SHOOTER RECEIVES TWELVE-YEAR SENTENCE

Caldwell, Idaho – May 29, 2026 – Lazaro Vela was sentenced today in Canyon County District Court for Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon Enhancement in connection with a gang-related shooting in Nampa. Prosecutors requested a thirty-year concurrent sentence, with twenty of those years fixed.

On September 1, 2022, Vela – a member of the Brown Pride Surenos (BPS) street gang – pulled a handgun and shot a Norteno gang member three times in the parking lot of the Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant in Nampa. Brian Moreno, a Norteno, then shot innocent bystander Joe Flores in an attempt to retaliate. Moreno was previously convicted of first-degree murder in February 2026 for that shooting.

In 2023, a year later, Vela was involved in another gang shooting in Grove Plaza parking lot in Boise. He fired several rounds into a group of rival Norteno gang members during a confrontation in the Grove Plaza parking lot. A 16-year-old female juvenile was struck in the arm, suffering a gunshot wound and non-displaced fracture. Another victim was possibly struck as well. In that case, Vela was convicted at trial by an Ada County jury and sentenced to twenty years in prison with ten years fixed.

This was Vela’s second gang-related public shooting, and prosecutors recommended a minimum of thirty years of prison with at least twenty before becoming parole eligible. Canyon County Prosecuting Attorney Chris Boyd stated: “This man has actually shot people in two separate gang shootings in public places in our community. He presents an unacceptable risk to take with our citizens’ lives, and incarceration is the only way to protect them.”

Although the prosecutor requested a thirty-year concurrent sentence, Judge Gabriel McCarthy sentenced Vela to seven years fixed followed by five years indeterminate, to be served consecutive to the Ada County sentence.

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CANYON COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY’S OFFICE TO PURSUE PROPORTIONATE COST SHARING IN MISDEMEANOR PROSECUTION CONTRACT WITH CITY OF CALDWELL

CALDWELL, ID – The Canyon County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced today its intention to pursue
proportionate cost sharing in its misdemeanor prosecution contract with the City of Caldwell.
Cities are required by Idaho code to fund their own misdemeanor prosecutions.
Currently, Canyon County taxpayers pay about 2.4 million dollars to service all misdemeanors
county-wide. Last year, the City of Caldwell accounted for 22.9% of that workload, but under
the previous contract reimbursed only 7% back to county taxpayers.

Chris Boyd, the Canyon County Prosecuting Attorney, requested a proportionate cost share this
year. “We worked with Nampa last year and they now do pretty reasonable cost-sharing with us.
I appreciate Caldwell’s understanding that costs need to be fairly reimbursed,” Boyd said.
Caldwell’s full reimbursement cost last year would have been $569,114, but Caldwell paid just
$350,425. Other Canyon County taxpayers paid for the remainder.

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For more information, please contact the Director of Constituent Services,
Steve Cushman at (208) 614-5011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 20, 2026

BUFFALO WILD WINGS SHOOTER FOUND GUILTY AT JURY TRIAL OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER IN CASE TRIED BY ELECTED CANYON COUNTY PROSECUTOR CHRISTOPHER BOYD

Canyon County, ID — On Thursday, February 19, 2026, a Canyon County jury unanimously found 25-year-old Brian Moreno guilty of the first-degree murder of Joe Flores after a week and half long trial. The jury also found Moreno guilty of a gang sentencing enhancement.

The victim, Joe Flores, had no affiliation with any criminal gang. This case was investigated by the Nampa Police Department. Sentencing is set before Judge Gabriel McCarthy on May 8, 2026, at 9 am.

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For more information, please contact Aaron Williams by email at Aaron.williams@canyoncounty.id.gov or by phone at (208)-614-5011.

]]> https://www.canyoncounty.id.gov/delbert-cornish-sentenced-to-life-without-parole-for-murder-of-18-year-old-onyx-cornish-and-attempted-murder-of-15-year-old-lucien-cornish/ Wed, 28 Jan 2026 20:58:54 +0000 https://www.canyoncounty.id.gov/?p=60948 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 28, 2026

Delbert Cornish Sentenced to Life Without Parole for Murder of 18-Year-Old Onyx Cornish and Attempted Murder of 15-Year-Old Lucien Cornish

Caldwell, Idaho — Delbert Cornish was sentenced today by Third District Judge Gabriel McCarthy to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the August 18, 2025 murder of 18-year-old Onyx Cornish and the attempted murder of her 15-year-old brother, Lucien Cornish. Cornish was charged with first degree murder, attempted murder, and animal cruelty stemming from a violent rampage that also included the shooting of Onyx’s pet cat.

The Canyon County Prosecutor’s Office was represented by Chief Deputy Ingrid Batey and Deputy Prosecutor Stephanie Morse. Cornish was represented by defense attorney Erik Ellis.

In addressing the Court, Batey described the defendant’s actions as “senseless, cruel, cowardly, and callous,” and asked the Court to impose a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. “Delbert Cornish should wake up behind bars every day for the rest of his life,” Batey said. “That still isn’t enough, but it’s the closest this Court can get to true justice.”

Ellis asked the Court to impose a 25-year fixed sentence, citing Cornish’s struggles with depression and suicidal ideation. Judge McCarthy ultimately agreed with the State and sentenced Cornish to life without the possibility of parole, describing the crime as “an act of pure evil.” In his final remarks to a packed courtroom, Judge McCarthy stated, “If there’s a God, perhaps God will have mercy on his soul. But the State of Idaho does not.”

“I want to thank the Caldwell Police Department for their diligent work on this case, as well as the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office and Canyon County Coroner’s Office,” Canyon County Prosecutor Chris Boyd said. “The Defendant’s actions were unthinkable and horrific, and he deserves to die in prison. I appreciate Judge McCarthy’s wise and thoughtful sentence, as well as his compassion for the victims in Court.”

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For more information, please contact our Prosecuting Attorney’s Office at (208)-754-7391