An individual who laced candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a summer program in the region has admitted sexual offenses against two young males both nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from that region, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was remanded in custody before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, outlined the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he ran.
Ruben engaged in a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the man had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the next day.
She explained the man had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to examine in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC stated objects including infant oil, ointment and syringes were located, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his concerns.
She explained the man proceeded to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she added.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member called the law enforcement again.
She stated Ruben then played the "candy game" in a space of five children.
