A man who laced sweets with sedative and distributed them to minors at a summer program in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two boys who were between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and one adult experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the judicial center on recently.
Yet, he disputed a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.
The defendant was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer program which he operated.
The man conducted a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She stated Ruben had been able to explain this for many years as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in recently.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his family member had concerns about the activities, justifiably.
"They resolved" to examine in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated materials including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his stepchild contacted the authorities about his suspicions.
She said the man proceeded to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that time," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The prosecutor explained the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson notified the police a second time.
She stated the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.
