A person who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to children at a summer camp in the area has admitted sexual crimes against two children who were between nine and ten.
The accused was taken into custody after eight minors and an older person fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from that region, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he operated.
Ruben played a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had conducted this practice with the boys "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She stated the man had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.
The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated items including infant oil, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild notified the police about his worries.
She stated the man continued to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that stage," she added.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member notified the authorities again.
She stated the defendant then engaged in the "treat game" in a space of five minors.
