A person who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a summer program in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two boys both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and one adult fell ill at the facility in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from that region, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
The man conducted a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the young males "for many years", and minors had previously become sick the following morning.
She stated the man had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "This year his stepson had suspicions about the activities, with valid cause.
"They chose" to examine in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his stepson notified the authorities about his worries.
She stated Ruben continued to play the "treat game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not responded by that stage," she added.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson called the police once more.
She said the defendant then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
