TLDR
Former Hennepin County Commission candidate Marisa Simonetti was convicted of misdemeanor assault for throwing a tarantula at an attorney staying in her home. She now awaits sentencing and pursues a $28 million lawsuit alleging false arrest, malicious prosecution, and political damage.
An unusual criminal case in suburban Minnesota began with an Airbnb dispute and ended in a misdemeanor assault conviction for a would-be politician. At its center is an allegation that a tarantula was thrown at a housemate. Around it is a widening fight in both criminal and civil courts.
Jurors in Hennepin County found 32-year-old Marisa Simonetti guilty of misdemeanor assault, harassment, and disorderly conduct in connection with a confrontation inside her Edina home. The complainant, attorney Jacklyn Vasquez, had been renting space there as an Airbnb guest when their relationship deteriorated.
Self-Representation and the Criminal Case
According to local reporting, Simonetti dismissed her defense lawyer a few weeks before trial and chose to represent herself. After the six-person jury returned guilty verdicts, she told reporters she believed she was innocent and that her lack of legal training hurt her defense, saying, “I was just outplayed.” Sentencing is scheduled for May 1st.
According to court filings and prior reporting, the conflict escalated when Simonetti sought to have Vasquez removed after disputes over the condition of the property and the stay. The jury’s decision indicates it accepted Vasquez’s account that Simonetti threw a tarantula at her during the confrontation.
Dueling Narratives in Civil Court
The criminal case has not ended the dispute. Simonetti, acting without a lawyer, has filed a $28 million civil lawsuit against Vasquez, the Edina Police Department, individual officers, and the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, alleging extortionate threats, false arrest, and malicious prosecution.
The complaint alleges that Vasquez misused her legal knowledge to pressure Simonetti and made damaging media threats, and that she incurred hundreds of dollars in unauthorized charges on Simonetti’s credit card. It also accuses police and prosecutors of constitutional violations, claims that remain unproven and have not been resolved by any court.
Political Ambitions and Public Messaging
At the time of the incident, Simonetti was running for Hennepin County Commission and positioning herself as a potential contender in Minnesota’s 2026 U.S. Senate race. The lawsuit asserts that the arrest and prosecution derailed a campaign that was gaining donors, media attention, and community support, though she was not widely viewed as a leading Senate prospect.
Simonetti has continued to speak publicly, sometimes describing her conduct as unconventional problem-solving and emphasizing her political message. Vasquez, by contrast, has offered only a brief response, telling one outlet, “Look up the term litigation abuse.” Further details from both sides, as well as formal responses from police and prosecutors, are likely to emerge as the civil case proceeds.
For now, the only established legal finding is the misdemeanor conviction rendered by the Hennepin County jury, with sentencing still to come. Whether Simonetti’s sweeping civil allegations gain traction and how voters ultimately assess her conduct will depend on proceedings that remain in early stages.
