A person who spiked sweets with sedative and distributed them to children at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two boys who were nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and one adult became sick at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the judicial center on Friday.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was remanded in custody prior to a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She stated his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant played a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor stated, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She told the court the man had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "Recently" his stepson had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said objects including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his family member alerted the police about his suspicions.
She said the defendant went on to play the "treat game" with six boys that evening - July 26th - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not responded by that stage," she added.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
The legal representative explained the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement once more.
She said the defendant then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.
