An individual who spiked candy with tranquilliser and gave them to minors at a summer program in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two children aged nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight children and one adult experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from that region, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "over an extended period", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She said the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had concerns about the activities, for good reason.
"They resolved" to examine in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained materials including infant oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his family member alerted the police about his concerns.
She said the man continued to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that stage," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.
The prosecutor said the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson notified the authorities a second time.
She stated the defendant then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
