A man who spiked sweets with sedative and provided them to minors at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males who were nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he operated.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She explained Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had worries in recently.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his family member had concerns about the situation, with valid cause.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor explained objects including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his stepchild contacted the police about his worries.
She stated Ruben continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she added.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining the police response of the incident.
Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson notified the authorities again.
She said the man then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
