A person who spiked treats with sleeping medication and gave them to youngsters at a summer program in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males both nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at the location in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from that region, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a young boy.
The accused was held in detention before a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he operated.
The defendant conducted a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".
She stated to the judge Ruben had played this game with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been able to explain this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had concerns in summer 2025.
The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his family member had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his family member notified the police about his suspicions.
She stated Ruben continued to play the "treat game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not responded by that stage," she added.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior explained the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities again.
She stated the defendant then played the "treat game" in a room of five children.
