A person who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to children at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two children both nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at the location in July.
The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer camp which he operated.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and children had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said Ruben had been able to explain this for many years as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had worries in recently.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "This year his stepchild had concerns about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained materials including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his family member contacted the police about his worries.
She explained Ruben proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the events.
The prosecutor stated the children were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member notified the law enforcement once more.
She stated the man then played the "candy game" in a space of five minors.
