An individual who laced treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a summer program in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two boys both nine and 10.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and one adult became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben played a "candy game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to ingest treats "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had conducted this practice with the boys "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had concerns in recently.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his family member had concerns about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said materials including baby oil, ointment and syringes were found, and his stepson contacted the police about his suspicions.
She explained the man went on to conduct the "sweet game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the situation.
The prosecutor explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities a second time.
She said the man then conducted the "candy game" in a space of five minors.
