Oregon authorities are searching for former Clackamas County commissioner Melissa Fireside, who is facing multiple felony counts of theft and forgery, after learning she is no longer at her approved address and may have traveled outside the United States. Investigators say she is likely accompanied by her 9-year-old son, who is not believed to be in immediate danger, but locating the child is now the state’s top priority.
State asks court to revoke release
According to the Oregon Department of Justice, prosecutors have moved to revoke Fireside’s conditional release because supervision officers could no longer confirm her residence in Lexington, Oregon. Leaving her approved location would violate the terms set while she awaits trial on the financial-crime case. Officials say they are now working with federal partners to determine whether she crossed an international border.
Rapid fall from office
Fireside was elected to the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners in November 2024, but she stepped down in March 2025 after a grand jury indictment accused her of stealing $30,000 from her mother’s 83-year-old partner and of forging documents tied to public business. At the time, county leaders said her resignation was necessary to restore trust in local government. Fireside pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Child’s safety is central concern
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said investigators do not believe the boy is being harmed, but emphasized that the state wants to reunite him with safe caregivers and ensure Fireside appears in court. “No one should be able to avoid Oregon law by leaving the country,” Rayfield said, noting that multiple agencies are now involved in the search.
