Individual confesses to sexual crimes involving children at summer camp
A man who laced sweets with sedative and provided them to minors at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two boys who were nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was against a young boy.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described the criminal behavior to the court.
She stated his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had played this game with the boys "over an extended period", and children had previously become sick the following morning.
She explained the man had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in summer 2025.
The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC said materials including baby oil, ointment and medical needles were located, and his family member alerted the authorities about his worries.
She stated Ruben went on to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson called the authorities once more.
She stated the defendant then conducted the "treat game" in a space of five children.
