A person who contaminated treats with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a youth camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two children both nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was held in detention before a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She explained the defendant had been able to explain this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had worries in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his family member had worries about the activities, with valid cause.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC explained items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his family member notified the law enforcement about his worries.
She stated the man proceeded to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that night - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson notified the authorities once more.
She explained the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
