Lawrence man sentenced to more than 27 years for aggravated criminal sodomy of two children

Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez today announced that Zachary Jonathan Lang, 38, of Lawrence, was sentenced to 330 months for aggravated criminal sodomy.

Judge Sally Pokorny sentenced Lang to the Kansas Department of Corrections for 165 months for two counts of aggravated criminal sodomy to run consecutively and 165 months for two additional counts of aggravated criminal sodomy to run concurrently. Lang will be subject to lifetime post-release supervision and will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Lang had entered a guilty plea in September to four counts of criminal sodomy involving two children.

Charges stemmed from incidents that occurred between June of 2018 and June of 2021, in which Lang sexually abused two children under the age of 14 who were under his care in his Lawrence home.

“No sentence can restore what the children in this case have lost,” District Attorney Valdez said. “However, I hope today’s sentence can provide some solace to the survivors on their road to healing. We are committed to protecting the children in our community and holding those who abuse children accountable.”

The State was represented by Chief Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Tatum. The case was investigated by the Lawrence Police Department and the Kansas Department for Children and Families.