Individual pleads guilty to sex offences involving boys at summer program
A man who contaminated sweets with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males who were nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from that region, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse 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 boy.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She explained his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant conducted a "candy game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and ask them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the boys "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his stepson had worries about the situation, for good reason.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC explained items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his stepson notified the police about his concerns.
She said the man continued to play the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
The prosecutor explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member contacted the law enforcement once more.
She explained the defendant then conducted the "treat game" in a space of five children.
