A Minnesota political hopeful has been convicted of assault after prosecutors said she tried to drive a houseguest out of her home by throwing a tarantula at her during a bizarre dispute.

Marisa Simonetti, 32, was found guilty by a six-member jury of misdemeanor assault, harassment and disorderly conduct stemming from the unusual incident at her Edina residence, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune.

The confrontation involved Jacklyn Vasquez, an attorney who had been staying in Simonetti’s home as an Airbnb guest in 2024.

What began as a rental arrangement eventually spiraled into a bitter feud that played out in court, the media and now a criminal conviction.

According to court records and testimony, tensions between the two women escalated after Simonetti attempted to end the Airbnb arrangement and asked Vasquez to leave the property.

Simonetti later claimed the situation became increasingly hostile.

In a civil lawsuit she filed last year, Simonetti alleged Vasquez refused to leave and made threats that could damage her personal life and political ambitions.

The dispute allegedly intensified as the two exchanged heated messages and accusations.

Simonetti told local television outlets that Vasquez sent repeated messages complaining about problems in the house, including claims of a spider infestation and internet issues.

“It was just a bombardment,” Simonetti told Fox affiliate KMSP.

“She was sending me paragraphs-long messages and finally I had to block her because I felt so uncomfortable.”

Simonetti said she grew increasingly concerned about the situation because her young son lived in the home.

She also alleged that Vasquez threatened to call police, ruin her political campaign and go to the media with damaging accusations.

At some point during the dispute, Simonetti decided to take an unusual approach to removing her guest.

According to her own account, she took inspiration from the movie Home Alone.

“I mean, there is an element of humor to that movie,” Simonetti said in an interview.

“And at the end of the day, unhinged got her out of the house.”

Prosecutors said that “unhinged” moment involved Simonetti throwing a tarantula at Vasquez.

The incident prompted another call to police — this time from the houseguest.

Simonetti was arrested and charged.

During the trial, Simonetti represented herself after dismissing her attorney weeks earlier.

After the jury returned guilty verdicts, she told the Star Tribune she believed her lack of courtroom experience hurt her defense.

“I was just outplayed,” she said.

“That’s all.”

Simonetti has maintained she did not intend to harm anyone and has described the entire dispute as both “funny” and “ridiculous.”

“I didn’t physically harm anybody,” she told KMSP.

“I’m a little unconventional in my ways—sometimes. I mean, I’m a silly goose.”

Meanwhile, the legal conflict between the two women is far from over.

Simonetti has filed a $28 million civil lawsuit against Vasquez, the police department involved in her arrest and the prosecutors who pursued the case.

In the lawsuit, Simonetti claims her arrest and prosecution damaged her political career and violated her constitutional rights.

At the time of the dispute, she was running for Hennepin County commissioner and had ambitions of mounting a campaign for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota.

She claims the case derailed fundraising and political momentum.

For now, however, Simonetti faces sentencing for the criminal conviction.

A judge is scheduled to determine her punishment on May 1.