A person who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two young males both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was detained after eight minors and one adult fell ill at the facility in July.
The 76-year-old, from that region, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on recently.
However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail before a further hearing on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer program which he managed.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his family member had concerns about the situation, with valid cause.
"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated objects including infant oil, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his stepchild contacted the law enforcement about his worries.
She said the defendant went on to play the "candy game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the situation.
The legal representative explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the family member contacted the police again.
She stated the man then played the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
