A man who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from that region, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed one particular crime he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She stated his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he operated.
The man engaged in a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "over an extended period", and minors had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had concerns in recently.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor explained items including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were located, and his stepchild contacted the authorities about his worries.
She stated the defendant proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six youngsters that night - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that time," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative said the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member called the law enforcement again.
She explained Ruben then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five children.
