A person who contaminated sweets with sedative and gave them to minors at a summer camp in the area has admitted sexual offences against two boys aged between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at the location in July.
The senior citizen, from that region, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was remanded in custody prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "treat game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".
She stated to the judge Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the next day.
She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
The legal representative continued: "Recently" his family member had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated objects including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant continued to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that stage," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
The prosecutor said the youngsters were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities again.
She said the defendant then played the "candy game" in a area of five minors.
