A person who spiked candy with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer program in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males both nine and 10.
The accused was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from that region, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he disputed one particular crime he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben engaged in a "treat game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She explained the man had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated items including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his family member notified the authorities about his concerns.
She stated Ruben went on to conduct the "treat game" with six children that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson notified the law enforcement again.
She stated the defendant then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
