Former Clackamas Co. commissioner accused of theft, forgery may have fled country, DOJ says

SALEM Ore. (KPTV) - A former Clackamas County commissioner who is accused of theft and forgery may have fled the country with her young son, according to the Oregon Department of Justice on Friday.

In March 2025, Former commissioner Melissa Fireside was accused of stealing $30,000 from her mother’s boyfriend, who lives in an assisted living facility in Lake Oswego.

Fireside, a Democrat, was elected to the commission in November 2024, defeating Republican incumbent Mark Shull.

According to court documents, Fireside allegedly accessed the victim’s account during a visit to the facility, calling his bank and coaching him to reset his online banking information.

Documents also say that Fireside allegedly used the victim’s account to withdraw $29,000 to repay a loan to state representative April Dobson and withdrew another thousand dollars into her own account.

The victim’s daughter reported the suspicious activity to his credit union.

According to court documents filed on Oct. 31, 2025, Fireside’s ex-partner and father to her 9-year-old son called the Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office on Wednesday to say Fireside had been withdrawn from school and “apparently has fled the country,” according to the special agent investigating the case.

While Fireside has full custody of the boy, both parents have a legal agreement for his parenting, and the father is “concerned for his son’s safety,” the document states.

On Thursday, the Oregon DOJ checked travel records and was told there was no record of Fireside crossing the border since 2022. However, shortly after, the DOJ was informed by TSA that Fireside had made a reservation to fly from Mexico to Amsterdam on Tuesday.

Fireside made the reservation with Dutch Royal Airlines using an Austrian passport, and the DOJ alleges that Fireside may have used a fake ID to cross into Mexico.

The Oregon DOJ filed a motion on Friday to revoke Fireside’s conditional release, which was granted the same day.

According to the Oregon DOJ, while they do not believe he is in danger, their highest priority is ensuring Fireside’s 9-year-old son is safe.

“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.”

According to the DOJ, state and federal investigators are working to determine where Fireside is. If she is confirmed to be outside the United States, the extradition process will depend on the country involved.

Fireside is facing multiple felony charges:

• First-degree aggravated theft
• First-degree theft
• Computer crime
• First-degree forgery

Fireside’s pretrial release required her to remain in Oregon unless granted permission by the court. A jury trial was scheduled to begin on Dec. 2.

Anyone who knows where Fireside may be is asked to contact the Oregon Department of Justice Criminal Division at (503) 378-6347.