An individual who spiked treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer program in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two boys who were nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight minors and an older person became sick at the facility in July.
The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was involving a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, described Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he operated.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the children, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had played this game with the children "for many years", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in recently.
The legal representative added: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about the activities, with valid cause.
"They decided to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said objects including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his family member contacted the authorities about his worries.
She said the defendant proceeded to play the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she added.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining the police response of the events.
Mrs Prior stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the police a second time.
She stated Ruben then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
