Man admits sex offences targeting young males at summer camp
A man who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two boys who were nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight children and an older person became sick at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was held in detention before a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he managed.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge Ruben had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had worries in recently.
The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his family member had worries about the situation, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained items including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his worries.
She explained the man went on to conduct the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not responded by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining the police response of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member notified the authorities a second time.
She said Ruben then conducted the "treat game" in a area of five children.
