A person who spiked candy with sedative and gave them to minors at a summer program in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two boys who were between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight children and an older person experienced illness at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the judicial center on the end of the week.
However, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was against a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he operated.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She stated the man had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to examine in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said objects including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his stepson contacted the police about his suspicions.
She said the defendant continued to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative said the minors were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member called the authorities a second time.
She stated Ruben then played the "treat game" in a area of five children.
