The Tarrytown Lighthouse is open again, but the legal fallout from last year's fire just got more expensive for the two men who admitted setting it. Elvin Ayavaca and Joseph Barrero have pleaded guilty to arson in the blaze that damaged the Sleepy Hollow landmark.
Ayavaca, 19, of White Plains, and Barrero, 20, of Harrison, each were ordered to pay $50,000 and complete 150 hours of community service, according to News 12. The fire caused more than $100,000 in damage, meaning the court-ordered payments total nearly the full initial estimate but do not erase the landmark's broader repair bill.
The case began after a break-in and fire at the lighthouse on May 31, 2025. CBS New York reported that a parks worker found smoke, broken windows, damaged flooring and destroyed antiques, furniture and historically significant items inside the 1883 structure.
The original investigation involved four teenagers, with Ayavaca and Barrero facing felony charges and two 17-year-olds handled as juveniles. The initial News 12 report said about 35 antique books had also been pulled from shelves and scattered across the floor.
The Lighthouse Reopened Before The Guilty Pleas
The public did not have to wait for the criminal case to finish before the lighthouse returned to service. In April, News 12 reported that repairs had restored the floors, walls and windows, while new security measures were added before free tours resumed.
The reopening came less than a year after the lighthouse had undergone a roughly $3.4 million renovation. That timing made the fire especially costly: the landmark had only recently been restored when the vandalism forced another round of work and suspended public tours.
What The Pleas Mean For The Case
The guilty pleas provide the clearest resolution yet in a case that initially included arson, burglary and criminal mischief charges. The latest update identifies the restitution and community-service terms for Ayavaca and Barrero, but does not provide additional details about the court status of the two juvenile defendants.
The Tarrytown Lighthouse, also known as the Kingsland Point Lighthouse, remains listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has resumed curator-led tours after the repairs. As The Associated Press noted during the original case, the Hudson River landmark had only recently returned to public view after its major restoration.
