A man who laced sweets with tranquilliser and gave them to minors at a youth camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two boys both nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight minors and one adult fell ill at the facility in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from that region, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Yet, he refused to admit one particular crime he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a youth camp which he managed.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "for many years", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in recently.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about the situation, with valid cause.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel stated items including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant proceeded to play the "treat game" with six boys that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she stated further.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the situation.
The legal representative explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson notified the police a second time.
She stated the defendant then conducted the "sweet game" in a space of five minors.
