A sprawling illegal campsite in Arizona's Tonto National Forest has been the focal point of a long-running saga, as authorities worked to bring an end to Mark Aaron Gatz's years-long occupation of the area. The situation came to a head on 25 June when Gatz was apprehended at his makeshift home, surrounded by a staggering 1,000 pounds of rubbish and debris.
Court documents reveal that Gatz had been living in the forest for approximately eight years, despite numerous warnings and citations from USFS officers. A review of records indicates that he had previously received six outstanding federal arrest warrants for infractions including building fires during restrictions, constructing structures on national forest land, maintaining unsanitary conditions, and occupying the forest as a residence.
USFS officers made multiple attempts to contact Gatz over the past year, issuing warnings and violation notices. Notes from these encounters detailed observations of 'trash such as clothing, pans, tools, and plastic cups scattered throughout the campsite', including a four-foot-tall structure built using wood panels. In May, officers reported seeing approximately 1,000 pounds of debris at the site, consisting of tyres, plastic bags, aluminium cans, and other items.
A separate report from February described officers being 'flabbergasted by the amount of debris', consisting of ladders, overfilled storage totes, drums, tyres, bicycle frames, motor oil, and lumber, scattered over roughly half an acre and posing public safety concerns. Gatz reportedly acknowledged fire restrictions but claimed he needed a campfire for cooking purposes.
Following his guilty plea this week, Gatz was sentenced to time served and three years of probation, according to court records.