The race for Hennepin County Commissioner took some bizarre turns in the last few days, starting when Marisa Simonetti was arrested last Friday and was ultimately charged with a misdemeanor count of fifth-degree assault.
Charges in the case against Marisa Simonetti, 30, allege she tossed a tarantula at a housemate who Simonetti called a “squatter” living in her basement, originally reported by Lou Raguse on Monday. Video obtained by Raguse appeared to show Simonetti tossing the contents of a clear box down the stairs at the home where she lives in Edina while loud music played in the background. The housemate and alleged victim, Jackie Vasquez, was reportedly filming from the basement as other items appeared to be thrown down the stairs.
Simonetti was held in jail over the weekend and was released on Monday following her first court appearance. She has since taken to social media and has given media interviews in defense of her actions, even embracing the moniker of “tarantula tosser.”
Simonetti said in an interview that she thought she would be immediately released on bail Friday but that Edina police increased the charges to include probable cause domestic assault, because the alleged victim, Vasquez, was living in the same home.
Since her arrest, further information has come to light about Simonetti’s past including a prior felony criminal charge of financial card fraud and a messy prior civil case for financial damages, both involving a prior relationship with an ex-fiancé that had soured. Court documents in the cases state that a nearly $1M townhome in Edina and a $57,000 engagement ring that her ex-fiancé wanted back were at the center of the disputes.
The financial card fraud case charged in Washington County alleged Simonetti had made over $80,000 in fraudulent transactions on the ex’s accounts after they ended their engagement, but the criminal case was ultimately dismissed earlier this year. A court document filed by the prosecutor stated that the victim, the ex-fiancé, was no longer willing to cooperate with the prosecution. An order was filed by the judge in the related Hennepin County civil case to sell the townhome, and the remainder of the case was settled out of court and the case was also ultimately dismissed.
Lou Raguse also reported that Simonetti and a different man, who is the father of her child (and was not named), each have restraining orders against each other. Raguse said he spoke to that ex who claimed Simonetti had assaulted him and had also set up a fake Grindr account in his name where she arranged for men to come to his residence expecting sexual hookups. Simonetti in an online podcast on Thursday admitted to creating the Grindr profile basically in retaliation against the ex for what she claimed were his frivolous legal maneuverings over their child. She also claimed she was a victim of domestic abuse in the relationship.
KARE 11 then reported this week that Simonetti, who has claimed she’s a real estate professional, had her Minnesota real estate license revoked in 2016 for “fraudulent practices.” The report described that Simonetti (named Harper at the time) had falsely represented herself in the past to home sellers as a person interested in buying their homes, but then turned around and listed the homes for sale on the MLS. KARE 11 said records show that Simonetti’s real estate salesperson’s license was revoked for making “false and misleading statements” and that she “engaged in fraudulent, deceptive and dishonest practices.”
Meanwhile, rumors began circulating online this week that Simonetti was engaging in paid escort services under an alias.
Alpha News reached out to Simonetti for comment on the rumors, and she returned the following statement:
“I have done nothing wrong or to be ashamed of. When you are a woman, with an infant and no money, living with domestic violence, you can’t ‘just leave.’ I made a plan to protect my son and I executed, and now hold considerable wealth. I refuse to accept any narrative that shames or blames women for the autonomy they exercise over their own bodies.”
JUST IN: Alpha News has asked conservative Hennepin County commissioner candidate Marisa Simonetti for comment after we were told she is a paid escort.
In a statement, she says: “I have done nothing wrong or to be ashamed of. When you are a woman, with an infant and no money,… pic.twitter.com/EcteGdODSv
— Alpha News (@AlphaNewsMN) June 27, 2024
Simonetti, who is running as a self-described “conservative” on a “family values” platform in the non-partisan race, has stated several times this week on social media and in interviews that she fully intends to continue running in the November election for the District 6 seat against DFLer Heather Edelson, who currently holds the seat following the May special election that was held for the vacant seat.
Lou Raguse said in one of his reports that GOP leaders are meeting to consider what steps they’ll take next.
Simonetti was granted a public defender during her first court appearance and is scheduled to make her next appearance on July 18 at the Ridgedale Courthouse.
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Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
Crime Watch MN
Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
