A man who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer program in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two children both nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight minors and a grown-up fell ill at the location in July.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the judicial center on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was remanded in custody ahead of a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer camp which he managed.
Ruben conducted a "sweet game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court the man had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been able to explain this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in recently.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "This year his family member had concerns about the situation, with valid cause.
"They chose" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said materials including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She explained the defendant continued to engage in the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that time," she stated further.
The oversight body, the investigative body, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the events.
Mrs Prior said the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the family member called the authorities once more.
She said the man then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
