Calgary Man Convicted for Tunneling into Upstairs Neighbour's Apartment
A Calgary man has been found guilty of break and enter after a bizarre incident where he tunneled from his ground floor apartment into the unit of his upstairs neighbour, a woman who was away for an extended period. Justice Eric Tolppanen delivered the verdict on Monday, rejecting the accused man's claims that someone else might have been responsible for the elaborate intrusion.
Judge Rejects Alternative Theories
Justice Tolppanen stated that it would be unreasonable to believe anyone other than the accused, Ben Maize, was responsible for the tunneling operation. The judge emphasized that the circumstantial evidence pointed overwhelmingly to Maize as the perpetrator. According to court documents, Maize had argued that someone else could have entered his apartment and conducted the tunneling work, but the judge found this theory implausible given the complexity and planning required for the operation.
Details of the Intrusion
The court heard that between August 5 and September 5, 2025, while the victim, Betty Golightly, was staying with relatives, Maize executed his plan. He first cut an opening in the drywall of his own apartment, then created a hole through the wooden structure separating the two units. Using power tools, he made four vertical drill holes and cut an opening through the drywall of Golightly's apartment, positioning a ladder to access what the judge described as the "dead space" between the units.
Justice Tolppanen noted that while the opening into Golightly's unit was relatively small, it was "sufficient for an adult to get through." Once inside, Maize committed acts of mischief, including rearranging items in the apartment and repositioning lingerie in a bedroom chest of drawers. He also secured the front door with a hotel-style latch, preventing Golightly from entering when she returned home on September 5.
Courtroom Proceedings and Sentencing
During the trial, Maize represented himself and attempted to suggest that video evidence showing his front door lacked a deadbolt meant someone else could have accessed his apartment. However, Crown prosecutor Petter Hurich successfully argued that the only reasonable conclusion was Maize's responsibility for the damage and intrusion.
Throughout the reading of the verdict, Maize showed little emotion, at one point stifling a yawn while wearing remand overalls with a necklace and crucifix visible. The court will set a date for his sentencing hearing on Tuesday, and Maize has indicated he will continue to represent himself without legal counsel. He remains in custody pending sentencing.
This unusual case highlights the lengths to which some individuals will go to invade their neighbours' privacy and the challenges courts face in evaluating unconventional criminal behavior. The verdict sends a clear message about the serious consequences of such intrusive actions, even when they involve elaborate methods like tunneling between residential units.
