A man who spiked treats with sedative and gave them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has admitted sexual crimes against two children both nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight minors and one adult fell ill at the facility in July.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his those affected were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he operated.
Ruben conducted a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the defendant had engaged in this activity with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his stepchild had concerns about the situation, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor stated materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the police about his worries.
She explained the man proceeded to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the next day.
"The police had not responded by that time," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The prosecutor explained the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member called the law enforcement once more.
She said the man then played the "treat game" in a space of five children.
