A man who contaminated sweets with tranquilliser and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in the region has admitted sexual crimes against two boys aged nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the judicial center on recently.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, outlined the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer camp which he operated.
Ruben conducted a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had conducted this practice with the boys "over an extended period", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in recently.
The legal representative added: "Recently" his stepson had concerns about the situation, for good reason.
"They chose" to examine in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC said items including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant proceeded to play the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - July 26th - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was reviewing the police response of the events.
The legal representative said the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the police again.
She stated the man then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
