A person who spiked candy with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from that region, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the judicial center on recently.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "rapidly".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the young males "for many years", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "This year his stepson had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel explained items including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his stepchild contacted the law enforcement about his worries.
She stated the defendant proceeded to conduct the "treat game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not responded by that point," she added.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the situation.
The prosecutor said the minors were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member notified the law enforcement once more.
She stated the defendant then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.
