WHITE PLAINS – Two Westchester County men have pled guilty to intentionally setting a fire that caused over $100,000 in damage to the historic Tarrytown Lighthouse in May 2025.
Elvin Ayavaca, 19, of White Plains, and Richrd Joseph Barrero, 20, of Harrison, pled guilty on Monday to felony arson and misdemeanor criminal mischief.
Under terms of the plea agreement, each man is required to immediately pay $50,000 in restitution, complete 150 hours of community service, and must avoid any further arrests. If they comply, they will be permitted to withdraw their guilty pleas to the felony charge in a year and be sentenced to probation on the misdemeanor charge. If either defendant violates the terms of the agreement, he will be sentenced on the felony conviction.
A restitution judgment of $81,000 will also be issued to each defendant.
Two others involved, who were under the age of 18 at the time of the offense, were charged as juveniles and prosecuted in Westchester Family Court.
The lighthouse in Kingsland Point Park in Sleepy Hollow, listed on the National Register on Historic Places, sustained fire damage, several broken windows, and destruction of valuable antiques.
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