Canadian sailor Donald Lang arrested in B.C. for sex crimes against minors in Hawaii

Yachtsman Donald Steven Lang, 62, was arrested in British Columbia after a years-long FBI manhunt. He faces charges of producing child sexual abuse material and prior Idaho abuse counts.

Canadian yachtsman nabbed in B.C. after FBI hunt for Hawaii sex crimes

The FBI has arrested a Canadian sailor accused of multiple sex crimes against minors, ending a years-long pursuit across the South Pacific. Donald Steven Lang, 62, was taken into custody in British Columbia over the weekend, according to the Toronto Sun Crime, citing the U.S. Department of Justice.

A new indictment alleges Lang produced images of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct between September and December 2024 aboard his 52-foot sailboat, the Ishi. The alleged offences took place at sea, on a vessel Lang regularly sailed between Hawaii and other regions of the Pacific.

Manhunt spanning years and oceans

Lang had been known to authorities as a seasoned amateur sailor who frequently docked in Hawaii and had connections across multiple U.S. states and several countries. He was last confirmed at his home port in Hawaii in January 2025 before disappearing.

The FBI had previously warned the public that Lang "may be sailing between Hawaii and other regions like Fiji and Mexico" and described him as an escape risk. The bureau noted connections in Hawaii, Idaho, Washington State, California, the Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia, and Canada.

His disappearance was not the first. Honolulu Police had reported Lang missing as early as January 2023, after he set sail from Oahu to Maui on October 12, 2022, and was last heard from the following day while at sea. He had been expected back in Hawaii in January 2023 but was not seen again until surfacing in British Columbia.

Prior charges in Idaho

The Hawaii indictment is not Lang's only legal exposure. Prior to the alleged incidents aboard the Ishi, Lang had been indicted on separate child sexual abuse charges in Idaho related to alleged conduct between 2003 and 2007. As Toronto Sun Crime reported last March, he faces three counts of lewd conduct with a minor under 16 and one count of sexual battery of a minor in that state.

Collaboration between FBI and RCMP

U.S. officials credited cross-border law enforcement cooperation for Lang's capture. "Donald Lang has been accused by multiple victims of committing sexual abuse of a minor," federal authorities stated. "Lang's apprehension was the direct result of the collaboration of the FBI and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Pacific Region."

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department's Criminal Division said protecting children from sexual predators "is a priority of the highest order," adding that authorities would work to return Lang to the United States to stand trial.

U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson for the District of Hawaii echoed that position. "The U.S. Attorney's Office is unwavering in our commitment to protecting Hawaii's children and bringing to justice anyone preying upon them," Sorenson said. "I commend the continued dedication and great work of FBI and our Canadian law enforcement partners for apprehending Mr. Lang quickly and safely so that he can face justice in U.S. District Court in Hawaii."

Potential sentence

If convicted on the Hawaii charges, Lang faces a minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years. The conviction would also carry between five years of supervised release and lifetime supervised release, as well as a fine of up to $250,000. A federal district court judge will determine the final sentence based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Anyone with information about the case can contact the FBI's Honolulu Field Office at 808-426-2534, the FBI's toll-free tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

Source: Toronto Sun Crime