A man who spiked treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer program in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two boys aged nine and 10.
The accused was detained after eight children and one adult became sick at the facility in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from that region, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, outlined Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he operated.
The defendant conducted a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge Ruben had conducted this practice with the boys "repeatedly", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She explained Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.
The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the situation, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor stated items including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were located, and his stepson contacted the police about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben went on to conduct the "sweet game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member notified the police again.
She said Ruben then engaged in the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.
