The B.C. RCMP say they arrested Donald Steven Lang, 62, on Aug. 22 after locating a sailboat off the west coast of Vancouver Island that U.S. authorities had linked to him. Lang faces an indictment in Hawaii alleging multiple offences involving the sexual exploitation of a minor, according to police releases.
Cross-border investigation led to arrest
Vancouver Island officers said they received information from Federal Policing – Pacific Region, working with the FBI, to watch for a vessel associated with Lang. Investigators from the Vancouver Island District General Investigation Section, West Coast Marine, Ucluelet RCMP and the Island District Emergency Response Team located the boat and arrested him without incident in Ucluelet.
"The partnership between Canadian and U.S. authorities has been key to obtaining a provisional arrest warrant for Mr. Lang and bring him before justice," said Cpl. Alex Bérubé, a spokesman for the B.C. RCMP.
A separate statement from the U.S. Department of Justice noted the Nanaimo RCMP also assisted in the capture. The B.C. RCMP directed questions about the case and the judicial process to the U.S. Justice Department.
Allegations and vessel details
Court records cited by the agencies allege Lang produced sexually explicit images of a minor while aboard his 52-foot sailboat, the Ishi, between September and December 2024. The U.S. indictment, filed in Hawaii, reportedly charges Lang with three counts of lewd conduct involving a minor and one count of sexual battery of a minor.
Lang is described by authorities as an amateur sailor who frequently moors in Hawaiian waters and has undertaken voyages around the globe. He holds dual Canadian and U.S. citizenship, the RCMP said.
Next steps and prosecutorial remarks
U.S. prosecutors highlighted the priority placed on protecting children and signalled they will pursue the extradition or transfer process necessary to bring Lang before a U.S. court to face the charges.
"Protecting children from sexual predators is a priority of the highest order," said Assistant-Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the U.S. Department of Justice’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."
The B.C. RCMP said Lang was arrested without incident and did not provide additional local operational details. They also referred other inquiries about the case — including questions about Nanaimo RCMP's role and the upcoming judicial process — to the U.S. Justice Department.
- Suspect: Donald Steven Lang, 62
- Vessel: 52-foot sailboat Ishi
- Arrest date: Aug. 22 (as reported by B.C. RCMP)
- Allegations: Charges in Hawaii including lewd conduct and sexual battery involving a minor
- Alleged timeframe: Sept–Dec 2024 (production of images, per court documents)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Indictment location | Hawaii, U.S. |
| Counts (reported) | Three counts of lewd conduct; one count of sexual battery |
| Citizenship | Dual Canadian and U.S. |
The case underscores routine co-operation between Canadian and American law enforcement on matters involving alleged sexual offences against children. Authorities have not released additional information about any evidence recovered at the time of arrest or about Lang’s current custody status pending U.S. action.
Requests for further comment by Canadian agencies were referred to the U.S. Justice Department, which is expected to manage the next stages of prosecution and any extradition-related proceedings.
