A man who spiked candy with tranquilliser and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has admitted sexual offences against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, handling the case, outlined the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben played a "treat game" with the minors, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the boys "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She explained the man had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.
The legal representative continued: "This year his stepson had concerns about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel stated items including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben proceeded to play the "candy game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that stage," she stated further.
The oversight body, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the family member contacted the law enforcement a second time.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
