A man who contaminated treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a summer program in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up fell ill at the location in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the judicial center on recently.
However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention before a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he operated.
Ruben conducted a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the young males "repeatedly", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his family member had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They resolved" to examine in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel stated items including baby oil, ointment and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild contacted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She stated Ruben continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The oversight body, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.
Mrs Prior stated the minors were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the stepson notified the law enforcement a second time.
She explained the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
