A man who laced treats with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two young males who were nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and a grown-up became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from that region, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, outlined the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant played a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the man had conducted this practice with the boys "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the next day.
She stated the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in recently.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "This year his family member had worries about the situation, with valid cause.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC stated objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his stepson alerted the police about his suspicions.
She said the man went on to play the "treat game" with six boys that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was investigating the police response of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the family member notified the law enforcement a second time.
She stated the defendant then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five minors.
