An individual who contaminated treats with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a summer program in the area has admitted sexual crimes against two children aged nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight children and one adult became sick at the facility in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from that region, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on recently.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a young boy.
The accused was held in detention prior to a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant engaged in a "treat game" with the children, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the boys "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated Ruben had been able to explain this over a long period as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had concerns in recently.
The legal representative continued: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about the situation, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel explained objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were found, and his family member contacted the police about his concerns.
She said the man went on to play the "treat game" with six children that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member notified the law enforcement once more.
She explained Ruben then played the "sweet game" in a area of five children.
