A man who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer program in the region has admitted sexual crimes against two boys who were nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight youngsters and one adult became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention before a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She explained his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.
The man played a "sweet game" with the minors, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had conducted this practice with the boys "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.
The legal representative continued: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They resolved" to examine in the individual's items."
The legal counsel explained objects including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were discovered, and his stepson contacted the police about his concerns.
She explained the defendant continued to engage in the "treat game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the investigative body, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the children were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson notified the authorities once more.
She explained the man then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five children.
