An Arizona man has pleaded guilty to federal charges after living illegally in the Tonto national forest for years, leaving behind what officials described as approximately 1,000 pounds of trash. Mark Aaron Gatz, who had been residing at a makeshift campsite in the forest, was arrested on June 25 and sentenced this week to time served and three years of probation.
Details of the Illegal Campsite
According to court records, a United States Forest Service (USFS) officer documented that Gatz operated an illegal campsite with a hot wood-burning campfire despite active fire restrictions. Gatz told investigators he had been living in the forest for about eight years and admitted he knew about fire restrictions but needed fire to eat.
The officer noted that Gatz had previously received multiple citations and had six outstanding federal arrest warrants for violations including building fires during restrictions, constructing on national forest service lands, unsanitary conditions, and occupying national forest as a residence.
Observations of Trash and Debris
During an encounter in May, officers reported observing approximately 1,000 pounds of trash at the site, including tires, plastic bags, aluminum cans, and other items. They also found that the campfire had been left unattended while still hot the previous day. In a February encounter, an officer wrote that they were flabbergasted by the amount of debris, which included three ladders, six to eight totes overfilled with debris, five 55-gallon drums, eight tires, multiple bicycle frames, 5 gallons of motor oil, plywood, and miscellaneous lumber scattered over half an acre.
In a July 2025 report, officers described a large messy campsite while patrolling due to complaints from the district office. The officer wrote that roughly half an acre of resources were ruined due to so much trash and goods on the ground for an extended period.
Sentencing and Aftermath
Gatz pleaded guilty to violating federal fire restrictions and unlawfully residing in a national forest. He was sentenced to time served and three years of probation, according to court records. A representative for Gatz did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
