Mark Aaron Gatz, an Arizona man, pleaded guilty on 1 March 2026 to violating federal fire restrictions and unlawfully residing in the Tonto National Forest, after authorities discovered he had been living at a makeshift campsite surrounded by approximately 1,000 pounds of trash. He was arrested on 25 June 2025 at the illegal campsite near Superior, Arizona, according to court records.
Years of Illegal Residence and Fire Violations
A United States Forest Service (USFS) officer stated in court documents that Gatz had been operating an illegal campsite with a hot wood-burning campfire despite fire restrictions. Gatz told investigators he had been living in the forest for about eight years. A records check revealed Gatz had previously received multiple citations and had six outstanding federal arrest warrants for earlier violations, including building fires during fire restrictions, constructing on national forest service lands, unsanitary conditions, and occupying national forest as a residence. Gatz admitted he knew about current fire restrictions but said he needed fire to eat.
Repeated Encounters with Law Enforcement
USFS officers had made contact with Gatz multiple times over the past year, issuing warnings and a violation notice for campfires during fire restrictions. Notes from officers’ encounters earlier in 2025 described trash such as clothing, pans, tools, and plastic cups scattered throughout the campsite, along with a four-foot-high structure made of wood panels. During a May 2025 encounter, officers observed approximately 1,000 pounds of trash, including tires, plastic bags, aluminum cans, and other items. They also noted that the campfire site had been left unattended while still hot the previous day.
Extensive Debris and Public Safety Concerns
In a February 2025 encounter, one officer wrote, “Upon arrival at the camp, I was flabbergasted by the amount of debris in the area.” The debris included three ladders, six to eight totes overfilled with debris, five 55-gallon drums, eight tires, multiple bicycle frames, five gallons of motor oil, plywood, and miscellaneous lumber. Trash was scattered over approximately half an acre of Forest Service land, creating public safety concerns. In a separate report from July 2025, officers observed a large messy campsite while patrolling due to complaints from the district office. The officer wrote, “There was roughly half an acre of resources ruined due to so much trash and goods on the ground for an extended period of time.”
Sentencing and Aftermath
After Gatz pleaded guilty, 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.
