Arizona man lived in Tonto National Forest for years, left half-ton of trash, officials say
Mark Aaron Gatz admitted violating fire rules and unlawfully living on federal forest land after officers said his campsite held about 1,000 pounds of trash.
- On Monday, Mark Aaron Gatz pleaded guilty to violating fire restrictions and unlawful residential use of Tonto National Forest, concluding a case involving his eight-year unauthorized stay in the federal woods.
- Gatz had lived illegally in the forest for eight years, amassing around 1,000 pounds of trash at his campsite in the Strawberry-Pine area despite previous warnings from officers to clean and leave.
- Forest Service officers reported being "flabbergasted by the amount of debris in the area," with the site containing tires, an SUV, and a 3-foot-tall stone fireplace that ruined roughly a half acre of resources.
- Under a judgment filed Tuesday, Gatz received three months of probation and a $20 fine while agreeing to avoid visiting national forests in Arizona and using cannabis, bypassing $5,000 in restitution.
- Campers are limited to 14 days in Tonto National Forest, located about 28 miles east-northeast of Phoenix, and the case underscores enforcement of fire restrictions during Stage 2 bans.
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Arizona Man Who Lived in National Forest for Eight Years Sentenced After Leaving Massive Trash Site
An Arizona man who admitted to living illegally in Tonto National Forest for approximately eight years has been sentenced after authorities discovered a campsite littered ... The post Arizona Man Who Lived in National Forest for Eight Years Sentenced After Leaving Massive Trash Site first appeared on [your]NEWS.
Arizona man arrested after allegedly living in national forest for 8 years amid 1,000 pounds of garbage
A man was arrested after years of illegal camping in an Arizona national forest. Forest rangers discovered nearly one thousand pounds of accumulated garbage at his site. He had also violated fire restrictions by maintaining a wood-burning fire. The man faced multiple outstanding arrest warrants for his past actions. He was taken to the Coconino County Detention Center.
Man found amid 1,000 pounds of trash in national forest said he’d lived on parkland for 8 years
A man amassed around 1,000 pounds of trash at a campsite in Arizona’s Tonto National Forest, where, he told police, he’d been living for eight years, according to court documents.
NBC Dallas-Fort Worth
NBC New YorkMan found living in national forest had squatted for 8 years and amassed a half-ton of trash
A man amassed around 1,000 pounds of trash at a campsite in Arizona’s Tonto National Forest, where, he told police, he’d been living for eight years.
'Flabbergasted': Man found living in national park surrounded by trash, official say
Federal regulations limit camping in national forests to 14 days within a 30-day period, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Length of camping time is limited in order to protect natural resources from degradation and ensure fair access to…
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