A man who laced candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a summer program in the region has admitted sexual offenses against two children aged nine and 10.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from that region, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and tell them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated the defendant had been able to explain this over a long period as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about the activities, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC said items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his family member contacted the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated the man continued to conduct the "candy game" with six children that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not responded by that time," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior explained the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the family member notified the law enforcement a second time.
She explained the man then conducted the "treat game" in a area of five youngsters.
