An individual who spiked candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males who were between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Yet, he disputed one particular crime he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention before a further hearing on November 28th.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, outlined Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he managed.
Ruben played a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and tell them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the boys "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the next day.
She explained the man had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "Recently" his family member had concerns about the situation, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel explained objects including baby oil, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild contacted the law enforcement about his worries.
She said the man went on to play the "treat game" with six children that night - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
The prosecutor said the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson called the authorities once more.
She said Ruben then played the "treat game" in a room of five children.
