ARIZONA — An Arizona man has been sentenced after admitting to illegally living in Tonto National Forest, where authorities say he accumulated nearly 1,000 pounds of trash and repeatedly violated federal camping and fire regulations.

According to federal court records, Mark Aaron Gatz pleaded guilty to violating fire restrictions and unlawfully using National Forest land as a permanent residence. Following his guilty plea, he was sentenced to time served and placed on three years of supervised probation.

Gatz was arrested on June 25 after U.S. Forest Service officers located him at a makeshift campsite near National Forest System Road 1006 in central Arizona. Officers reported finding an active campfire despite strict fire restrictions that prohibited open flames in the area. Court documents state that Gatz admitted he started the fire and knew the restrictions were in effect.

Authorities said the arrest followed multiple encounters with Gatz over the past several years. A records check revealed several outstanding federal warrants related to previous violations, including maintaining unauthorized structures, exceeding camping limits, and repeatedly violating fire safety regulations.

Federal officials said Gatz had been living at the campsite for approximately two years and had spent nearly eight years residing in the surrounding Payson Pine area without authorization. National Forest regulations generally limit camping to 14 days within any 30-day period to protect natural resources and ensure public access.

During repeated inspections, Forest Service officers documented growing amounts of debris scattered across the campsite. They reported finding clothing, tools, cookware, plastic waste, wooden structures, and numerous household items left on public land.

In one inspection, an officer described being "flabbergasted" by the scale of the debris, which included storage containers overflowing with trash, metal drums, vehicle tires, bicycle frames, motor oil, plywood, and other discarded materials.

A later inspection estimated the site contained approximately 1,000 pounds of waste, including plastic bags, aluminum cans, tires, construction materials, and other refuse. Officers also reported discovering an unattended campfire that remained hot nearly a day after it had been left.

Despite receiving multiple warnings and citations over an extended period, investigators said Gatz continued occupying the campsite and failed to remove unauthorized structures or clean up the accumulating waste.

The case highlights ongoing efforts by the U.S. Forest Service to protect public lands from environmental damage, illegal long-term occupancy, and wildfire risks, particularly during periods of heightened fire danger.

Under the terms of his sentence, Gatz must comply with probation conditions while federal authorities continue enforcing regulations designed to preserve national forests and protect public safety.