Spider toss case takes new turn

Marisa Simonetti arrived at the Hennepin County Ridgedale Regional Center on Thursday morning, dressed in a black dress she described as her “spider queen outfit.”

Facing a fifth-degree assault charge for allegedly tossing a large spider (possibly a tarantula) and other items down a staircase at her Airbnb guest, the Republican District 6 Hennepin County commissioner candidate had assumed she would represent herself.

Fate, she said, had other plans.

“I always say God looks out for me,” said Simonetti, 30, of Edina. “He always swoops down, sometimes at the last moment. Things always work out.”

As the elevator doors closed on their way up to the third-floor courtroom, Simonetti met attorney John T. Daly of Daly Defense in Lakeville. Daly, a criminal defense lawyer, was there on another matter. They struck up a conversation, and later, after talking more, Daly agreed to take on her case.

Daly, who said he was unaware of the well-publicized case until meeting Simonetti that morning, was asked whether he believed he could get the charge against her dropped.

“I’m a good lawyer, and I have a good client and a good set of facts,” he said. “I think so, but I need to see everything first. It’s one of those situations where we have to review all the details. What I do know is that we’re dealing with someone of high character. I’ll do whatever it takes. It should be a good result.” He then joked, “I’m not talking about myself either.”

Incident and charges

The charge is fifth-degree assault, a misdemeanor involving causing fear of harm without physical contact. Simonetti allegedly tossed the spider and other items down the staircase at her Airbnb guest, Jacklyn Vasquez, while making a commotion with pots and pans and blaring Christian music.

Simonetti denies the allegations, calling Vasquez a “squatter,” while Vasquez, an attorney preparing for the California bar exam, insists she was a legitimate renter under their Airbnb agreement. Vasquez shared an electronic copy of an Airbnb receipt showing her stay was scheduled for 89 nights, from June 3 through Aug. 31.

She has referred questions to her attorney, Cassandra Merrick, who was in court on Thursday and declined to comment.

Inside the courtroom, Daly requested time to gather evidence and prepare a defense for his new client. The next court date, set for Oct. 17, will be the arraignment. Simonetti plans to plead not guilty.

“Ultimately, I didn’t do anything wrong,” Simonetti reiterated Thursday.

Simonetti’s rental arrangement with Vasquez is questionable because Simonetti is not the property owner. A Hennepin County property search shows that a different individual owns the house. Reports indicate that the actual owner was unaware of the sub-rental. Edina’s regulations prohibit short-term rentals like those offered on online vacation rental platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo.

On Thursday, Simonetti said she had apologized to the homeowner for renting out part of the house to Vasquez without permission.

She also mentioned her plans to film a segment for the A&E show “My Strange Arrest” on Friday, July 19. The show, which focuses on unusual and bizarre arrest stories, was initially set to film at her Edina residence.

However, the homeowner was uncomfortable with this arrangement. “I was comfortable with it,” Simonetti said. “Let’s make it realistic.”

Past revelations

While Simonetti’s campaign for Hennepin County commissioner continues, numerous revelations about her past have surfaced since her arrest.

These include speeding tickets, credit card theft charges dropped by a former fiancé, allegations of being a paid escort and having an OnlyFans account, and the loss of her real estate license in 2016 for making false statements and engaging in fraudulent practices, according to the Minnesota Department of Commerce.

On her campaign website, Simonetti describes herself as a businesswoman, rental property owner, and mother, positioning herself as the only conservative candidate in the nonpartisan race for the District 6 commissioner seat. She emphasizes her commitment to prudent spending, stronger crime accountability, and support for victims.

“Everything just tumbled out,” Simonetti said on Thursday. “It’s kind of a relief because nobody has anything to dangle over my head.”

Simonetti’s unconventional eviction methods, including releasing a live spider down the stairs, have attracted significant media attention.

Vasquez has described Simonetti’s behavior as erratic and deliberately frightening. She began recording the dispute on her laptop. In the 18-minute video, the camera is angled upward, capturing the stairs and various items, including a spider, being tossed down. The video and screenshots from it have been widely shared on social media and featured on numerous news shows.

Simonetti has embraced her notoriety. Her X (formerly Twitter) account describes her as the “Tarantula Tossing Candidate for Hennepin County Commissioner 6,” and her posts frequently feature spider memes. She is also selling “Tarantula Tosser” T-shirts to raise money for her campaign.

According to her X account, she found the spider in her downstairs area in late June, where Vasquez had been staying. Simonetti returned it to PetSmart for store credit. She then held a social media contest where a gift card was awarded to the person who correctly guessed the spider’s purchase price.

“I was trying to be myself,” she said of her posts on social media. “I’m a different kind of candidate. I look different. I’m younger. Maybe the posts aren’t as political, but people want to get to know you as a person.”

After court, she posted a short video of herself and Daly walking to their cars in the Ridgedale Regional Center parking lot.

Political reactions

In a statement addressing Simonetti’s issues, Heather Edelson, the incumbent and Simonetti’s opponent in the Nov. 5 election, emphasized the county’s crucial role in infrastructure, public safety, and health services. She pledged to represent the district with integrity and a results-driven approach.

“For decades, women have fought to be at the table and be taken seriously in government and business,” said the former DFL state representative. “Some of my opponent’s actions seek to undercut the serious, meaningful work women leaders are doing here in our state and nationally, and that is disappointing. Her behavior is not reflective of the balanced leadership our district requires.”

Edelson, 43, of Edina, won a May 14 special election to complete the term of Chris LaTondresse, who resigned last fall. Simonetti was the runner-up among six candidates in the April primary, with the top two advancing to May 14.

The winner of the Nov. 5 general election will serve a full four-year term, beginning in January 2025. District 6 includes 66 precincts, including six in northern Eden Prairie (precincts 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, and 8).

Late last month, the 3rd Congressional District Republican Party withdrew their previous recommendation for Simonetti in the special election race, stating in a press release that Simonetti, who had not sought a recommendation for the Nov. 5 election, “does not reflect our values.”

In response, Simonetti said, “CD3 was lukewarm in their support for months. They don’t want candidates who can win. They want to grift and waste time. Good riddance.”

‘The show must go on’

Outside the courthouse, as a reporter brought up her agreement to film a segment for “My Strange Arrest,” Simonetti confirmed the details.

“We’re filming at 10:15 a.m. tomorrow,” she told Daly, who was hearing about it for the first time.

“We should talk,” Daly said. “The good news is we’re talking about a misdemeanor here, right? We’re not talking about something that will ruin your life going forward. But you do have a lot going on. So, we’ll discuss it.”

He added, “I like to talk to them and see what they actually want to do. Generally, I say that’s a bad idea.”

A reporter noted that, so far, Simonetti appears to view embracing publicity as the most effective way to handle the situation.

“You’ve got to keep your spirits up,” she answered. “It’s been very scary, so I cope with humor.”

Later on Thursday, Simonetti confirmed that the “My Strange Arrest” segment would proceed, with filming taking place at an Airbnb in Maple Grove.

“The show must go on,” Simonetti stated Friday in a text to Eden Prairie Local News. “It helps that the facts prove my innocence.”