A person who laced candy with tranquilliser and gave them to minors at a summer program in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two boys both nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight minors and an older person became sick at the facility in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his those affected were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the children, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had played this game with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his stepchild alerted the police about his suspicions.
She stated Ruben proceeded to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that time - July 26th - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor said the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the police again.
She stated the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a space of five youngsters.
