An alleged child predator, Donald Steven Lang, was arrested in Canada. Authorities accused him of exploiting a child aboard his sailboat. The United States requested the arrest, concluding a global search for Lang, a seasoned sailor known for traveling extensively. Lang holds dual citizenship in the U.S. and Canada, and was charged in Hawaii on August 20 with sexual exploitation of children.
According to prosecutors, Lang allegedly engaged in the exploitation of a minor aboard his 55-foot sailboat, named Ishi, between September and December 2024. The Department of Justice reported Lang’s frequent visits to Hawaii, though the FBI’s search expanded globally.
The FBI warned Lang might have been sailing from Hawaii toward destinations such as Fiji, Papua New Guinea, or possibly Indonesia. Connections were noted in Hawaii, Idaho, Washington state, California, Fiji, the Marquesas Islands, Mexico, and Canada. Prosecutors claim Lang coerced a minor into sexually explicit activities aiming to produce imagery.
The indictment described his sailboat as a 1985 Taylor Hatfield oceangoing sailing vessel. Authorities aim to forfeit the sailboat, various digital devices, and storage media should Lang be convicted. Items include a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra phone.
Lang faces charges in Idaho related to a separate child sex abuse case. Kootenai County prosecutors charged him in April 2025 with multiple counts of lewd conduct and sexual battery involving a minor, occurring between 2003 and 2007.
FBI statements emphasized their priority in protecting children from sexual predators. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva discussed efforts to bring Lang to trial in the United States. Heith Janke, FBI Criminal Assistant Director, noted multiple accusations against Lang regarding the abuse of minors.
The FBI offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to Lang’s arrest, warning of his potential to escape. Lang’s arrest resulted from collaboration between the FBI and Canada’s Royal Canadian Mounted Police Pacific Region. The arrest involved RCMP’s Tofino General Duty division, Island District GIS, and other units. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs aided in securing the arrest.
If convicted in Hawaii, Lang faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison, potentially extending to 30 years, along with fines up to $250,000 and supervised release from five years to life.
Stepheny Price is a writer focusing on West Coast and Midwest news, covering topics like missing persons, crime stories, and border security.
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