A man who spiked candy with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has admitted sexual offenses against two boys who were nine and 10.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and an older person fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The accused was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant played a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel said, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "In the summer" his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They resolved" to examine in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson notified the law enforcement about his worries.
She stated Ruben continued to play the "sweet game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"The police had not responded by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member notified the law enforcement once more.
She explained Ruben then engaged in the "candy game" in a area of five minors.
