A man who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males who were nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight children and one adult became sick at the facility in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from that region, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant played a "sweet game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had played this game with the children "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She said Ruben had been able to explain this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative added: "Recently" his stepson had worries about the situation, with valid cause.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor said materials including lubricant, ointment and syringes were located, and his family member notified the police about his worries.
She said the man continued to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"The police had not responded by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the incident.
The legal representative said the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the family member notified the authorities again.
She said the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five children.
