An individual who laced candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a summer program in the area has admitted sexual crimes against two young males both nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was against a young boy.
The defendant was held in detention prior to a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a youth camp which he operated.
Ruben engaged in a "treat game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in recently.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his family member had worries about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including lubricant, ointment and syringes were found, and his stepson contacted the police about his worries.
She explained the man went on to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that night - July 26th - and they were all sick the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she added.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior said the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson contacted the law enforcement again.
She said the man then played the "sweet game" in a space of five minors.
