A person who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to children at a summer camp in the region has admitted sexual offences against two children both nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight minors and one adult experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was involving a young boy.
The accused was held in detention ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
The man played a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the boys "repeatedly", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in recently.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his stepchild had concerns about the activities, with valid cause.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson notified the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated Ruben proceeded to play the "sweet game" with six boys that time - July 26th - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior explained the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member called the police again.
She said the defendant then conducted the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.
