Man pleads guilty to sex offences targeting young males at youth camp
A person who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a summer program in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two children aged nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from that region, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he disputed a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was remanded in custody ahead of a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his stepson had worries about the situation, with valid cause.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his stepson notified the law enforcement about his worries.
She explained the man proceeded to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that night - July 26th - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Authorities" had not responded by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
The prosecutor said the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the police again.
She stated the man then played the "candy game" in a room of five minors.