An Oregon man who secretly lived in a crawlspace underneath a family’s Happy Valley townhouse for nearly three months was sentenced to three years in prison on Tuesday, May 26. A Clackamas County jury took approximately 20 minutes to find 41-year-old Beniamin Bucur guilty of first-degree burglary.
The living arrangement went completely unnoticed by the residents—a married couple and their young daughter—until September 3, 2025. On that day, a neighbor spotted an intruder entering the crawlspace and immediately contacted law enforcement.
Upon arriving at the scene, responding officers used a tool to breach the crawlspace door. Inside, they discovered what the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office described as an elaborate, functional living space equipped with lights, a kitchen, and a gaming area. A network of extension cords had been routed into the space, tapping directly into the family’s electrical service to power the setup.
According to prosecutors, the makeshift subterranean apartment was heavily furnished. Deputy District Attorney Tiffany Escover, who prosecuted the case, stated that Bucur used the cover of darkness to sneak his belongings into the home. His setup included multiple televisions, gaming consoles, cooking burners, and hung string lights. Escover noted that Bucur was racking up electricity usage while the family unknowingly footed the bill, adding that for two and a half months, Bucur was the roommate the family never knew they had.
During the subsequent investigation, authorities also found a sword, multiple knives, and a pipe containing methamphetamine residue inside the crawlspace.
Bucur’s defense attorney could not be reached for comment regarding the sentencing. According to the district attorney’s office, Bucur is currently facing additional, unrelated burglary charges in neighboring Washington County.
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