OR State: Former Clackamas County commissioner facing theft charges may have fled country

by Steve Benham, KATU Fri, October 31, 2025 at 5:47 PM Updated Fri, October 31, 2025 at 5:52 PM

Former Clackamas County Commissioner Melissa Fireside is accused of taking financial advantage of an 83-year-old man, accessing a computer network, and forging signatures as part of the scheme. (KATU, file)

PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — A Clackamas County commissioner who resigned from her position amid a police investigation and was arraigned on charges earlier this year may have fled the country with her 9-year-old son, the Oregon Department of Justice said Friday.

The Lake Oswego Police Department police confirmed in March it was investigating Melissa Fireside.

Fireside resigned on Friday, March 7.

In its news release Friday, the Oregon Justice Department said it had received information that she was no longer believed to be living at her listed address in Lexington, Oregon, which is a small rural town in Morrow County. It did not believe Fireside’s son was in danger.

“Our top concern right now is the safety and well-being of this child,” said Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield in the news release. “We are working closely with law enforcement partners here and at the federal level to locate Ms. Fireside and ensure she is held accountable under Oregon law. No one should be able to evade justice by crossing a border.”

The Justice Department said Fireside was arraigned in March on first-degree aggravated theft, first-degree theft, computer crime and first-degree forgery charges.

She was released under an agreement that required her to stay in Oregon unless a court said otherwise. The Justice Department said on Friday that it had filed a motion to revoke that release order.

Fireside is accused of taking financial advantage of an 83-year-old man, accessing a computer network and forging signatures.

Investigators at the state and federal level are trying to figure out where Fireside is and, when found, take her into custody. But taking her into custody may be challenging if she is located outside the country. The ease of extraditing her to the United States will depend on which country she is found in.

Fireside’s trial was scheduled for Dec. 2.

She was elected to Position 4 of the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners in 2024.

Anyone with information about Fireside's whereabouts is asked to contact the Justice Department at 503-378-6347.

https://katu.com/news/local/former-clackamas-county-commissioner-melissa-fireside-facing-theft-charges-may-have-fled-country-oregon-justice-department

>>23796578

Former Clackamas, OR County Commissioner on the Run!

Kristin Sokoloff

@ksoklower48

HOLY CRAP: Former Clackamas, OR County Commissioner on the Run!

Democrat Melissa Fireside Used Fake ID to Enter Mexico, Then Flew to Amsterdam With Child, DOJ Says.

While facing felony theft and forgery charges, Fireside allegedly slipped across the border using a fake identity and booked a Mexico-to-Amsterdam flight — all from right here in my county.

https://x.com/ksoklower48/status/1984423953281241568

>>23796578

ODOJ Files Motion to Revoke Release of Melissa Fireside – Believes She has Fled Country=

October 31, 2025

Posted in Homepage, Media Release

ODOJ has information that former Clackamas County commissioner may have fled the country with her son

The Oregon Department of Justice has filed a motion to revoke the conditional release of Melissa Fireside after receiving information indicating that she is no longer residing at her listed address in Lexington, Oregon.

The Department has provided information to the Clackamas County Circuit Court suggesting that Fireside may have fled the country. It is also believed that she took her nine-year-old son with her. While the child is not believed to be in danger, ensuring his safety remains the State’s highest priority.

“Our top concern right now is the safety and well-being of this child,” said Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield. “We are working closely with law enforcement partners here and at the federal level to locate Ms. Fireside and ensure she is held accountable under Oregon law. No one should be able to evade justice by crossing a border.”

State investigators are actively working to determine Fireside’s whereabouts. Once located, every effort will be made to bring her into custody. If Fireside is confirmed to be outside the United States, the extradition process may present additional challenges depending on the country involved. Oregon investigators are already coordinating with federal partners to assist in this effort.

Fireside was arraigned in March 2025 on multiple felony charges, including Aggravated Theft in the First Degree, Theft in the First Degree, Computer Crime, and Forgery in the First Degree. She was released under a conditional release agreement requiring her to remain in Oregon unless granted court permission to leave. Her jury trial was scheduled to begin on December 2, 2025.

If you have information on Fireside’s whereabouts, please contact the Oregon Department of Justice Criminal Division at (503) 378-6347.

https://www.doj.state.or.us/media-home/news-media-releases/odoj-files-motion-to-revoke-release-of-melissa-fireside-believes-she-has-fled-country/