A person who contaminated sweets with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a summer program in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two young males aged nine and 10.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and one adult fell ill at the facility in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described the criminal behavior to the court.
She explained his those affected were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he operated.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the children, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She told the court the man had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had worries in recently.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, for good reason.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained objects including baby oil, Vaseline and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She said the defendant continued to conduct the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining the police response of the events.
The prosecutor said the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson called the police once more.
She stated the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a area of five minors.
