A person who laced sweets with sedative and gave them to minors at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males both nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight children and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the judicial center on recently.
However, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he managed.
The man played a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had played this game with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the following morning.
She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had worries in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about the situation, with valid cause.
"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC stated materials including infant oil, ointment and syringes were found, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his worries.
She stated Ruben continued to conduct the "treat game" with six youngsters that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not responded by that time," she added.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement a second time.
She said Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a space of five youngsters.
