A man who contaminated sweets with sedative and distributed them to children at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two boys who were between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and one adult became sick at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the judicial center on recently.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was against a young boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, outlined the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a youth camp which he managed.
The man played a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the man had conducted this practice with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "Recently" his family member had worries about what was going on, for good reason.
"They resolved" to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC stated objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his family member notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated Ruben went on to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
The legal representative explained the minors were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson notified the authorities a second time.
She explained the defendant then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
