A man who laced sweets with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys aged between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the judicial center on recently.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he operated.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the next day.
She stated the man had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in recently.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his family member had concerns about the situation, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC stated materials including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She explained Ruben continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was reviewing the police response of the situation.
The prosecutor said the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the police a second time.
She said the defendant then engaged in the "treat game" in a space of five youngsters.
