An individual who laced sweets with sedative and gave them to minors at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males aged between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight minors and one adult fell ill at the location in July.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention before a further hearing on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, detailed the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
Ruben engaged in a "treat game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his family member had concerns about the situation, for good reason.
"They chose" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel explained objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his family member notified the police about his concerns.
She explained the defendant continued to play the "candy game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative said the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson called the police a second time.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.
