A former Oregon county commissioner is now at the center of a scandal, following allegations that she has taken off from the country. Melissa Fireside, a one-time Clackamas County commissioner, faces multiple felony charges related to a significant theft case.
According to reports from KPTV, back in March 2025, Fireside was reported to have swiped $30,000 from her mother’s boyfriend, who is currently residing in an assisted living facility.
The prosecutors allege that Fireside visited the facility and somehow gained access to the man’s bank account information. She supposedly guided him through resetting his online banking credentials over the phone.
Using this unauthorized access, she reportedly withdrew $29,000, claiming it was to pay back a loan from a state representative. Additionally, she withdrew another $1,000 for her personal account.
The investigation was triggered by the man’s daughter noticing unusual transactions and bringing them to the attention of his credit union.
In a press release on October 31, the Oregon Department of Justice indicated that Fireside may have already left the United States, prompting them to file a motion to revoke her conditional release.
The father of Fireside’s 9-year-old son reported to the Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office that the child had been taken out of school and that it appears his ex-partner had indeed left the country, as detailed in court documents.
The Oregon DOJ suspects that she might have used a fraudulent ID to cross over into Mexico.
Furthermore, there are claims that on a recent Tuesday, she booked a flight from Mexico to Amsterdam, further deepening the concern. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield emphasized, “Our primary worry right now is for the safety of this child. We’re cooperating with law enforcement at all levels to locate her and make sure she faces justice. No one should think they can escape legal repercussions just by crossing a border.”
This situation raises serious issues; Fireside has been charged with crimes including first-degree aggravated theft, first-degree theft, computer crimes, and forgery. Her release agreement mandated that she remain in Oregon unless she had permission otherwise.
As it stands, Fireside’s trial is supposed to start on December 2. Attempts to get a comment from her attorney, Shannon Kmetic, were unsuccessful.
Original article source:Ex-Oregon County Commissioner on the Run After Alleged $30K Theft
