A person who spiked treats with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a summer program in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two boys both nine and 10.
The accused was arrested after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at the location in July.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, handling the case, described the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
The defendant engaged in a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the children "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She explained the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had concerns in recently.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepson had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor explained items including infant oil, Vaseline and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She said the man continued to conduct the "candy game" with six children that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was investigating the police response of the situation.
The legal representative explained the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the authorities a second time.
She explained Ruben then played the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.
