An individual who contaminated treats with sedative and provided them to children at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys who were nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
Nevertheless, he disputed one particular crime he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention before a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer program which he managed.
The defendant played a "sweet game" with the minors, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and minors had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She said the man had been able to explain this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had worries in recently.
The legal representative continued: "Recently" his family member had concerns about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated objects including baby oil, ointment and injection devices were located, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his concerns.
She explained Ruben proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that time," she stated further.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member contacted the police again.
She said Ruben then conducted the "treat game" in a space of five minors.
