Former Clackamas County Commissioner Melissa Fireside has become the focus of a nationwide and international search after Oregon officials announced she violated the terms of her release and may have fled the country with her nine-year-old son. Fireside, who resigned earlier this year amid felony theft and fraud charges, is accused of defrauding an elderly man while serving in a position of public trust.
The Oregon Department of Justice (ODOJ) filed a motion in late October to revoke Fireside’s conditional release after investigators discovered she was no longer living at her registered address in Lexington, Oregon. Court filings allege that she took her son out of school and crossed the border, possibly using falsified documents and an Austrian passport. Federal and state authorities are collaborating to locate her and ensure the child’s safety.
Attorney General Dan Rayfield emphasized that the state’s primary concern is the well-being of Fireside’s son and reaffirmed that no one, regardless of position or political affiliation, is above the law. Investigators obtained records suggesting Fireside booked a flight from Mexico to Amsterdam and may have used false identification to enter Mexico. The origin of the Austrian passport remains under investigation.
Fireside’s legal troubles began months earlier when she was indicted in March 2025 on eight felony counts, including aggravated first-degree theft, computer crime, identity theft, and forgery. The charges stem from allegations that she exploited Arthur Petrone, an 83-year-old resident of an assisted living facility and longtime partner of Fireside’s mother.
According to court documents, Fireside allegedly guided Petrone through resetting his online banking credentials during a recorded call, then used his information to access his accounts at Rivermark Community Credit Union. Prosecutors claim she obtained a $21,000 personal loan in his name and made withdrawals totaling about $30,000, including two direct payments to herself and one to Oregon State Representative April Dobson, a friend who had previously loaned Fireside nearly the same amount.
Investigators say Fireside created a fake email account in Petrone’s name, linked it to her business, Resolute Consulting, LLC, and used it to communicate with the credit union. Petrone had no connection to the company or the email, leading authorities to believe the account was created for impersonation. Dobson told investigators that she lent Fireside money as a personal favor and that the loan was repaid within a month.
Fireside was elected to the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners in November 2024, defeating incumbent Mark Shull. Her tenure was short-lived, as she resigned in March 2025 following the DOJ investigation. After her arraignment, Fireside pleaded not guilty and was released under conditions requiring her to remain in Oregon and have no contact with Petrone or Rep. Dobson. Her trial was scheduled to begin December 2, 2025.
Authorities are now coordinating with federal agencies to locate Fireside and pursue extradition if she is confirmed to be abroad—a process that could be complex depending on the country. Her ex-partner alerted authorities to her disappearance after discovering the child had been withdrawn from school. While investigators say the child is not believed to be in immediate danger, ensuring his safety remains a top priority.
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