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A man who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two children aged nine and ten years old.

Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at the facility in July.

The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.

Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.

The accused was held in detention ahead of a additional proceeding on November 28th.

'Candy game'

The prosecutor, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.

She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer program which he ran.

The man conducted a "sweet game" with the minors, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".

She stated to the judge the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.

She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in July 2025.

The legal representative added: "Recently" his family member had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.

"They resolved" to examine in the individual's items."

The legal counsel stated materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his family member alerted the authorities about his suspicions.

She explained the defendant continued to engage in the "treat game" with six youngsters that evening - July 26th - and they were all sick the next day.

"Law enforcement" had not responded by that time," she continued.

The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.

Mrs Prior stated the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson notified the authorities once more.

She said the man then played the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.