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A man who spiked treats with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys aged between nine and ten.

The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult became sick at the location in mid-summer.

The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.

Nevertheless, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.

The defendant was kept in jail before a further hearing on late November.

'Treat game'

The legal representative, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the judicial body.

She stated his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he operated.

The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor stated, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".

She told the court Ruben had played this game with the boys "for many years", and children had previously become sick the next day.

She said the man had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in recently.

Mrs Prior KC added: "Recently" his stepson had concerns about the situation, for good reason.

"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."

Mrs Prior KC explained objects including lubricant, ointment and syringes were discovered, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his worries.

She said Ruben went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.

"Authorities" had not arrived by that point," she stated further.

The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the events.

The legal representative explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the authorities a second time.

She stated the man then conducted the "treat game" in a space of five youngsters.