A person who laced treats with sedative and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in the area has admitted sexual offences against two children who were nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and one adult experienced illness at the location in the summer month.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the judicial center on recently.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was remanded in custody before a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, outlined the criminal behavior to the court.
She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said the man had been able to explain this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his stepson had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She explained the defendant went on to play the "sweet game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the minors were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the stepson notified the police a second time.
She explained the defendant then conducted the "candy game" in a area of five children.
