A man who spiked treats with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a youth camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two young males who were nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at the location in July.
The elderly man, from that region, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the judicial center on recently.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he operated.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said materials including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were discovered, and his family member alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She said the man continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the next day.
"The police had not responded by that stage," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior explained the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson notified the law enforcement a second time.
She stated Ruben then played the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
