An individual who contaminated sweets with sedative and provided them to minors at a summer camp in the area has admitted sexual offences against two boys aged between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight youngsters and one adult 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.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he operated.
The man conducted a "treat game" with the minors, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and children had previously become sick the next day.
She explained Ruben had been able to explain this over a long period as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his stepchild contacted the authorities about his concerns.
She said Ruben went on to conduct the "treat game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that point," she added.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior explained the minors were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the family member notified the law enforcement again.
She explained the defendant then engaged in the "treat game" in a room of five minors.
