An individual who laced candy with sedative and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in the area has admitted sexual offenses against two children who were nine and 10.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The accused was remanded in custody before a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he managed.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the minors, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the following morning.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had worries in July 2025.
The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC said materials including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his worries.
She said the man continued to play the "candy game" with six youngsters that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"The police had not responded by that point," she added.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, had stated that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The legal representative said the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member called the police once more.
She stated the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
