Two Westchester men who admitted to setting fire to the historic Tarrytown Lighthouse have agreed to pay nearly $81,000 each to avoid prison time. Elvin Ayavaca, 19, and Richard Joseph Barrero, 20, pleaded guilty on Monday to charges stemming from the May 2025 arson.
Under the terms of a plea deal brokered with the Westchester District Attorney’s office, the pair will avoid felony convictions and jail sentences if they pay the full restitution amount and complete community service within the year. If they fail to comply, they each face up to 15 years in prison on the original arson charge.
Westchester DA Susan Cacace stated that the secured restitution sends a message that vandalism of community historic treasures will not be tolerated. She indicated that recovering the funds to repair the lighthouse justified sparing the individuals from felony convictions.
Westchester Judge Erin McGoey outlined that if the defendants initially pay $50,000 each and adhere to other conditions, the felony charges would be dropped, and they would be sentenced to probation for a misdemeanor offense. The total restitution is approximately $81,000 per person, totaling close to $162,000.
The fire gutted the 143-year-old lighthouse, a Hudson River landmark, just months after it had completed a $3.4 million restoration. The damage is estimated to be over $100,000.
Ayavaca, Barrero, and two 17-year-old accomplices were captured on surveillance video scaling a locked gate and approaching the lighthouse around 3:30 a.m. on May 31, 2025. A county parks employee discovered the damage the following morning, reporting that the fire had consumed the first two floors, windows were smashed, and antique items inside were destroyed.
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins described the incident as a "reckless and destructive attack" on a treasured landmark and added that the guilty pleas ensure accountability for those who destroy public property.
The cases involving the two 17-year-old accomplices were handled through Family Court, and their names and case resolutions remain sealed due to their age. Their potential criminal records were thus avoided.