Two Westchester men have entered guilty pleas for intentionally setting a fire that caused more than $100,000 in damage to the historic Tarrytown Lighthouse in May 2025. Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace said that Elvin Ayavaca, age 19, of White Plains, and Richard Joseph Barrero, age 20, of Harrison, pleaded guilty before Westchester County Court Judge Judge Erin McGoey to Arson in the Third Degree, a class C felony, and Criminal Mischief in the Fourth Degree, a class A misdemeanor.
Two additional defendants, who were under the age of 18 at the time of the offense, were charged as juveniles and prosecuted in Westchester Family Court. Because they are juveniles, their identities and the dispositions of their cases are confidential.
On May 31, 2025, a Westchester County Parks employee discovered significant damage to the historic Tarrytown Lighthouse, located in Kingsland Point Park in Sleepy Hollow, including fire damage, multiple broken windows, and the destruction of valuable antiques. Lighthouse curators estimated the value of the damage at more than $100,000. The Tarrytown Lighthouse was originally constructed between 1882 and 1883 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Cacace said that under the terms of the plea agreement with Ayavaca and Barrero, each defendant is required immediately to pay $50,000 in restitution, complete 150 hours of community service, and must avoid any further arrests. If the defendants successfully 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. Additionally, a restitution judgment order in the amount of $80,959.20 will be issued for each defendant.
Cacace said, “The Tarrytown Lighthouse is a cherished piece of Westchester history, and the reckless and dangerous actions of these young men caused significant damage to an important community landmark. The restitution we secured as part of their plea agreements sends a clear message that acts of vandalism against our community’s historic treasures will not be tolerated.”
According to Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins, “This was a reckless and destructive attack on one of Westchester County’s most treasured historic landmarks. The guilty pleas send a clear message that those who vandalize and destroy public property will be held accountable. The Tarrytown Lighthouse has stood watch over the Hudson River for generations. While it sustained significant damage, the county acted quickly to restore this landmark, and it is once again open to the public. But we will never forget how close we came to losing it. We remain committed to protecting the places that tell the story of Westchester County, preserve our shared history, and belong to every resident.”
