A man who contaminated sweets with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a youth camp in the region has admitted sexual crimes against two young males aged between nine and ten.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and an older person fell ill at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody before a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
The man played a "sweet game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the boys "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She stated the man had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
The legal representative continued: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about what was going on, for good reason.
"They resolved" to investigate in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated objects including infant oil, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She said the man continued to engage in the "sweet game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member called the police again.
She said the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a space of five youngsters.
