A person who contaminated sweets with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a summer program in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two children both nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the judicial center on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor explained, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and ask them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the man had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had concerns in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC said items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his worries.
She explained the defendant proceeded to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining the police response of the events.
Mrs Prior stated the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the stepson called the law enforcement a second time.
She said Ruben then played the "candy game" in a area of five children.
