An individual who laced sweets with tranquilliser and gave them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up became sick at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from that region, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "candy game" with the children, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his stepson had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC said items including infant oil, ointment and injection devices were found, and his family member notified the law enforcement about his concerns.
She explained Ruben continued to play the "candy game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the stepson notified the police again.
She stated the defendant then engaged in the "treat game" in a area of five minors.
