An individual who contaminated sweets with sedative and gave them to children at a youth camp in the area has admitted sexual crimes against two young males both nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight children and a grown-up became sick at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, handling the case, outlined the criminal behavior to the court.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
The man engaged in a "treat game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had concerns in July 2025.
The legal representative continued: "This year his family member had concerns about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to investigate in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated objects including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his family member notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She said Ruben continued to play the "treat game" with six boys that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not responded by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
The prosecutor stated the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the stepson called the authorities a second time.
She said Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
