Former Clackamas County Commissioner Melissa Fireside, who stepped down in March 2025 after being indicted on eight theft and forgery charges, was indicted this week on 19 additional theft and forgery charges, the Oregon Department of Justice announced Friday.
FILE: Melissa Fireside, pictured during her run for Clackamas County's board of commissioners
Courtesy of the Fireside Campaign
Authorities are still working to find Fireside, who they believe left the country last year while awaiting trial on the initial charges.
Related: Former Clackamas County commissioner charged in theft, forgery case may have fled the country
Fireside was charged in 2025 with defrauding her mother’s 83-year-old boyfriend of $30,000. She pleaded not guilty and was released under an agreement with the state, but was ordered to remain in Oregon.
In October 2025, authorities learned she was no longer staying at her listed address in Lexington, Oregon. So the Oregon DOJ filed a motion to revoke that conditional release.
The charges announced this week allege that Fireside fraudulently opened several loans and credit card accounts using her mother’s identity between March 2021 and December 2024.
The new indictment includes several felony counts of identity theft, forgery and theft by deception.
In a statement Friday, the Oregon DOJ said it will not be commenting further on the case due to ongoing efforts to return Fireside to the United States.
Fireside is believed to have taken her young son with her when she fled. While officials don’t believe he is in danger, they are working to locate the two of them as soon as possible.
Officials are asking anyone with information on Fireside’s whereabouts to contact the Oregon Department of Justice Criminal Division.
