A man who laced candy with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys both nine and 10.
The accused was taken into custody after eight minors and one adult became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on recently.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, described the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She stated to the judge Ruben had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his stepson had concerns about the activities, justifiably.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his family member contacted the authorities about his worries.
She stated Ruben proceeded to play the "candy game" with six youngsters that evening - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining the police response of the incident.
The legal representative explained the minors were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the family member contacted the police a second time.
She said the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a space of five children.
