An individual who spiked candy with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two boys both nine and ten years old.
The accused was arrested after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at the location in July.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail before a further hearing on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he operated.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously become sick the following morning.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.
The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his stepson had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC explained items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She explained the man went on to play the "candy game" with six boys that time - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the investigative body, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the police again.
She stated the defendant then conducted the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.
