A person who laced sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two boys both nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight youngsters and one adult experienced illness at the location in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he managed.
The defendant conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said the man had been able to explain this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in recently.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about the activities, with valid cause.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel said objects including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild notified the police about his concerns.
She said Ruben proceeded to play the "candy game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the police again.
She said the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a area of five children.
