Hawaii sailboat owner indicted on child exploitation charges arrested in Canada

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A man was arrested this past weekend in Canada at the request of the United States following his earlier indictment in Hawaii for sexual exploitation of a child.

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According to court documents, Donald Steven Lang, 62, produced images of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Lang allegedly produced the images between September 2024 and December 2024 aboard his 52-foot sailboat, the Ishi. Lang is an amateur sailor who is known to sail around the world and is frequently harbored in Hawaii.

“Protecting children from sexual predators is a priority of the highest order,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “We will continue to pursue this alleged offender and work with our law enforcement partners to return him to the United States to face trial for the crimes he is charged with committing.”

Lang was previously indicted on separate charges of child sexual abuse in Idaho related to his involvement in the sexual assault of a minor between 2003 and 2007.

If convicted, Lang could serve a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison.

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A federal district court judge will determine a sentence after conviction, considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

FBI Honolulu is investigating the case.

Trial Attorney Eduardo Palomo of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara Eucker for the District of Hawaii are prosecuting the case.

Anyone with information regarding this case may contact the FBI’s Honolulu Field Office at (808) 426-2534 or the FBI’s Toll-Free tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).

Anyone with information about this case may also contact their local FBI office or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate, or they can submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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