An individual who laced candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males aged nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight minors and one adult experienced illness at the facility in July.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a youth camp which he managed.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had concerns in recently.
The legal representative continued: "Recently" his family member had concerns about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated materials including lubricant, ointment and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild contacted the authorities about his suspicions.
She said Ruben continued to play the "treat game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were all sick the next day.
"The police had not responded by that stage," she added.
The oversight body, the investigative body, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the situation.
The prosecutor said the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement again.
She stated Ruben then conducted the "candy game" in a space of five youngsters.
