A person who spiked sweets with tranquilliser and gave them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two children aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was detained after eight minors and an older person fell ill at the facility in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from that region, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he operated.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the boys "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in recently.
The prosecutor added: "This year his stepchild had worries about the situation, with valid cause.
"They chose" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She said Ruben continued to play the "sweet game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not responded by that point," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the situation.
The prosecutor stated the children were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the family member notified the law enforcement a second time.
She stated the man then played the "candy game" in a area of five minors.
