A man who laced sweets with tranquilliser and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in the area has admitted sexual offences against two boys both between nine and ten.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on recently.
However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was remanded in custody before a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, with valid cause.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated items including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were located, and his stepson contacted the police about his suspicions.
She explained the defendant proceeded to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that evening - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the stepson called the authorities once more.
She said the defendant then engaged in the "treat game" in a space of five minors.
