A man who laced candy with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a summer program in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys who were nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight children and an older person fell ill at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel said, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the children "for many years", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including infant oil, Vaseline and medical needles were found, and his stepson notified the law enforcement about his worries.
She stated the defendant went on to engage in the "treat game" with six youngsters that night - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that point," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the situation.
The legal representative said the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement again.
She stated the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a area of five children.
