A person who spiked sweets with sedative and gave them to children at a summer program in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males both between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up fell ill at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody before a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The man played a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She explained Ruben had been able to explain this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about the activities, with valid cause.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and injection devices were found, and his stepson notified the authorities about his suspicions.
She explained the defendant proceeded to conduct the "treat game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that stage," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement once more.
She said the man then conducted the "treat game" in a room of five children.
