An individual who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer program in the region has admitted sexual offenses against two young males both nine and 10.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and one adult became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the judicial center on recently.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on 28 November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
The defendant conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge Ruben had conducted this practice with the young males "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated the defendant had been able to explain this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "Recently" his stepson had concerns about the situation, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his worries.
She said Ruben continued to engage in the "candy game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the situation.
The legal representative said the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the authorities once more.
She explained the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five children.
