An individual who laced treats with sleeping medication and gave them to children at a summer program in the area has admitted sexual offenses against two boys both nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight minors and an older person fell ill at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on recently.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "treat game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in recently.
Mrs Prior KC added: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC explained materials including baby oil, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his stepchild contacted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She said the man went on to play the "candy game" with six children that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not responded by that stage," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities again.
She explained the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
