A person who spiked candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a youth camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two boys both nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight children and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in July.
The senior citizen, from that region, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was remanded in custody prior to a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "This year his family member had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They decided to investigate in the individual's items."
The legal counsel explained items including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were found, and his stepchild contacted the authorities about his worries.
She said the defendant went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member notified the authorities a second time.
She explained the defendant then engaged in the "treat game" in a room of five children.
