Blue Stores Trial Begins - Lance Wheeler Video

Columbia-Greene Media- by Roger Gilson HUDSON- The trial of Darrin Buffa, accused of setting fire to his business, the historical Blue Stores Restaurant in Livingston, began Wednesday with opening statements and the prosecution calling witnesses. In the opening statements, the prosecution, led by Columbia County District Attorney Paul Czajka, said Buffa stood to collect almost $1 million in insurance money from the fire. Czajka said he would introduce evidence suggesting the fire began in Buffa's office, as well as surveillance footage from a nearby gas station of Buffa running an intersection as he left his restaurant after locking up that night. The defense, led by Albany Defense Attorney Michael McDermott, said Buffa would have only collected money for the restaurant's inventory and was never charged with insurance fraud, and said New York State Police investigators rushed to arrest Buffa instead of considering other causes of the fire. The prosecution called the last two people who were with Buffa at the restaurant the night of the fire; the man who called 911 about the fire; a state trooper who responded to the blaze; and New York State Police Inv. Eric Barnes, who investigated the fire. Police responded to the fire just after 1 a.m. on March 15, 2014. Buffa was arrested July 22 and charged with third-degree arson, a class C non-violent felony. The trial will continue Thursday. LIVINGSTON- The historic Blue Store Restaurant was heavily damaged by fire in 2014. Blue Store was constructed in 1840 as a tavern by Caleb Washburn, who built over a previous building dating back to 1804 that was first owned by the Walter Tryon Livingston family. The building served as a dining establishment under various owners until a March 15, 2014 overnight fire closed it down. Sixteen area fire departments responded to the blaze, which was not put out until early morning of March 15. The former operator of the restaurant, Darrin J. Buffa, was arrested three-and-a-half months after the blaze after being indicted by a Columbia County grand jury on the charge of third-degree arson, a class C felony, in connection with the fire, according to state police. Buffa's trial is set to begin April 25, said Columbia County District Attorney Paul Czajka.