Man pleads guilty to sexual crimes targeting children at youth camp
An individual who laced candy with sedative and gave them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two children both between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight minors and an older person fell ill at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he operated.
Ruben played a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge Ruben had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had concerns in recently.
The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
The legal counsel explained materials including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were discovered, and his family member notified the police about his worries.
She explained Ruben continued to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that stage," she added.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the police a second time.
She said Ruben then played the "candy game" in a room of five children.
