A man who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at the location in July.
The senior citizen, from that region, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was involving a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined the criminal behavior to the court.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the children "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They resolved" to examine in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were found, and his stepson contacted the police about his worries.
She stated the man went on to play the "treat game" with six boys that evening - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she continued.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was investigating the police response of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson called the authorities a second time.
She explained the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a space of five children.
