A man who laced sweets with sedative and gave them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two young males who were between nine and ten.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was remanded in custody prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, outlined the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he operated.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the children "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had worries in recently.
The legal representative added: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his suspicions.
She said Ruben went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative said the youngsters were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member contacted the police a second time.
She said the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five children.
