A person who laced candy with sedative and distributed them to children at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was arrested after eight children and an older person became sick at the location in July.
The 76-year-old, from that region, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a youth camp which he operated.
Ruben played a "candy game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had concerns in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They decided to examine in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated materials including baby oil, Vaseline and injection devices were discovered, and his stepson alerted the police about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant went on to engage in the "treat game" with six boys that evening - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that point," she continued.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the events.
The prosecutor explained the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson notified the law enforcement again.
She explained the man then played the "treat game" in a space of five youngsters.
