A person who laced candy with tranquilliser and gave them to children at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two children both nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and one adult fell ill at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the judicial center on recently.
However, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
The man conducted a "treat game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the defendant had conducted this practice with the boys "over an extended period", and minors had previously become sick the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC stated objects including infant oil, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his stepson notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated the man went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that time," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
The legal representative said the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson called the authorities once more.
She explained Ruben then engaged in the "candy game" in a area of five children.
