An individual who spiked candy with sedative and provided them to minors at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two young males both nine and 10.
The defendant was arrested after eight children and a grown-up experienced illness at the location in July.
The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the judicial center on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his those affected were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
The man conducted a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the next day.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, with valid cause.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor said items including baby oil, ointment and medical needles were located, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben proceeded to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that time," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
Mrs Prior explained the children were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the family member notified the police a second time.
She said the man then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five children.
