A person who laced treats with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two children aged between nine and ten.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult experienced illness at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the judicial center on recently.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his those affected were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he operated.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had conducted this practice with the young males "over an extended period", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
The legal representative added: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, for good reason.
"They resolved" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel said items including infant oil, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his concerns.
She explained Ruben proceeded to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the events.
The legal representative stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the stepson notified the authorities again.
She stated the defendant then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
