An individual who spiked candy with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two children both nine and ten years old.
The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the judicial center on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined the criminal behavior to the court.
She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had played this game with the boys "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the activities, with valid cause.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC stated materials including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his concerns.
She said the man went on to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson called the police a second time.
She explained the defendant then conducted the "candy game" in a area of five children.
