Minnesota political candidate convicted of assault for throwing tarantula at Airbnb tenant

EDINA, Minn. (TCN) -- A 32-year-old woman has been convicted on three criminal charges associated with the harassment of her Airbnb tenant in 2024.

Marisa Simonetti, who was running for Hennepin County commissioner at the time, threw a live tarantula at her Airbnb tenant after she reportedly refused to leave at the end of the rental period, KARE reports.

According to court documents obtained by the outlet, Jackie Vasquez, a guest in the home, accused Simonetti of trespassing into her section of the house on June 21, 2024. Vasquez said Simonetti threw a tarantula at her to get her to leave, and said she was a squatter who was not adhering to the rules of their rental agreement.

According to a criminal complaint, KSTP reports, Vasquez was staying in the basement of the home and studying for the bar exam. Simonetti’s behavior became erratic after Vasquez suggested that Simonetti hire pest control to take care of a spider problem.

The following day, the criminal complaint states, Simonetti took Vasquez’s grocery delivery and refused to give her the items, and then reportedly shut off the internet and banged pots and pans while Vasquez was trying to study. Vasquez called 911 several times.

Vasquez left her laptop on the stairs to record what was happening, according to the criminal complaint. The video showed a tarantula being thrown down the stairs, as well as “yelling and hooting about Jesus,” according to KTSP, and Simonetti saying, “This is why you never f--k with Marisa Simonetti.”

Following the incident, Simonetti was jailed on assault charges, KARE reports. Vasquez moved out while Simonetti was in jail.

Simonetti was not the homeowner and did not have permission to rent out rooms, and therefore had violated her own lease, KARE reports. Additionally, short-term rentals are not allowed in Edina, Minnesota.

Following her arrest, Simonetti lost her Republican endorsement for the Hennepin County seat, KMSP reports.

Simonetti filed a $28 million lawsuit on July 29, 2025, that named Vasquez, Hennepin County, Edina, and Edina’s police officers as defendants, according to KARE. The suit alleged that the defendants endangered her well-being and her political career.

On March 13, Simonetti was convicted of gross misdemeanor harassment, misdemeanor domestic assault, and disorderly conduct, according to KSTP. Law & Crime reports that a few weeks before her trial was to begin, Simonetti dismissed her attorney and chose to represent herself. After being found guilty, she said she was unfamiliar with court procedures and that led to her conviction. She maintained her innocence.

Simonetti is scheduled to be sentenced on May 1, according to KARE.

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