A man who laced sweets with tranquilliser and provided them to youngsters at a summer program in the area has admitted sexual crimes against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at the location in July.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on recently.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was remanded in custody prior to a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he operated.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had conducted this practice with the boys "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had suspicions in recently.
The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor explained items including infant oil, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild notified the police about his concerns.
She said Ruben went on to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she added.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the situation.
The prosecutor said the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member contacted the law enforcement once more.
She explained the defendant then conducted the "treat game" in a space of five children.
