An individual who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males both nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight youngsters and one adult experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from that region, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the judicial center on Friday.
However, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention before a additional proceeding on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the children, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She explained the man had been able to explain this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his family member had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his concerns.
She explained Ruben went on to conduct the "treat game" with six youngsters that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the police again.
She stated Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a area of five minors.
