An individual who laced sweets with sedative and provided them to minors at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two boys aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult became sick at the location in July.
The senior citizen, from that region, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a young boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he managed.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the next day.
She stated the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his family member had concerns about the situation, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his stepchild contacted the authorities about his suspicions.
She said the defendant went on to play the "candy game" with six children that time - July 26th - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not responded by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
The prosecutor explained the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the stepson notified the authorities a second time.
She explained the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a space of five minors.
