A person who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a summer program in the area has admitted sexual offenses against two boys aged nine and 10.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and an older person fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was against a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention ahead of a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She stated his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his family member had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the individual's items."
The prosecutor explained items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his stepchild contacted the police about his suspicions.
She explained the man proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she added.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities once more.
She explained the man then played the "sweet game" in a space of five youngsters.
