A person who contaminated treats with sedative and provided them to children at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two children both nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She stated his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a youth camp which he managed.
The man played a "candy game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the man had conducted this practice with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They decided to examine in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including baby oil, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his stepson notified the authorities about his concerns.
She explained the man went on to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that night - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that stage," she added.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was investigating the police response of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the youngsters were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member called the police a second time.
She said the man then conducted the "candy game" in a area of five children.
