Man Pleads Guilty To Arson Of Leased Restaurant

A New Windsor man pleaded guilty Tuesday to attempted arson and insurance fraud in a 2016 fire at a Town of Newburgh eatery he leased.

Khaled Baroud, 61, admitted in Orange County Court to attempted arson in the March 13, 2016 fire that damaged USA Waffle, a waffle and bagel store at 440 South Plank Road. Baroud had opened the business less than a month earlier - on Feb. 28, 2016. He also admitted to falsifying "proof of loss" paperwork for the insurance company, claiming that the fire destroyed items that were not at the location and omitting his role in the fire. He intended to collect more than $50,000 in insurance payments, prosecutors said.