Clackamas County Commissioner Melissa Fireside pleads not guilty to theft charges

Published 12:00 pm Thursday, March 6, 2025

This story has been updated from its original version.First-term Clackamas County Commissioner Melissa Fireside pleaded not guilty to multiple counts related to theft and identity theft in Clackamas County Circuit Court Wednesday afternoon, March 5.

A secret indictment released by the court shows Fireside has been charged with first-degree aggravated theft, two counts of computer crime, first-degree theft, two counts of identity theft and two counts of first-degree forgery.

Fireside declined to comment outside the courtroom March 5.

According to a press release from Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, Fireside allegedly took advantage of an 83-year-old man while accessing a computer network and fraudulently used the man’s signature as well as the signature of state Rep. April Dobson, D-Happy Valley. The indictment cites tens of thousands worth of stolen property associated with the various charges.

Fireside, a Lake Oswego resident, won election to the county commission in November. Prior to the election, Lake Oswego police began an investigation into the 43-year-old for identity theft and aggravated theft. Police executed a search warrant at her home Oct. 30, less than a week before the election. The Oregonian/OregonLive first reported the search at the end of November.

In December, Clackamas County District Attorney John Wentworth asked the Oregon Department of Justice to take over prosecution in the case to avoid a conflict of interest.

“It does not matter who you are, which political party you’re in or what position you hold,” Rayfield said in the press release. “We will aggressively prosecute those who victimize Oregon’s seniors.”

Fireside, who defeated conservative incumbent Mark Shull in November’s election, was sworn into the commission on Jan. 3 and has continued to serve in her capacity as a commissioner despite the ongoing investigation. In a statement Wednesday afternoon, Commission Chair Craig Roberts said that Fireside would be taking a leave of absence effective immediately.

“As Chair of the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners, I want to express that I am deeply concerned by the indictment of Commissioner Fireside,” Roberts said in the statement. “This is a serious matter, and the Board remains committed to maintaining the trust and confidence that the people of Clackamas County have placed in us while continuing to fulfill our responsibilities to them.

“Under Oregon law, the Board does not have the authority to remove an elected commissioner. However, I want to assure everyone that the Board is committed to reviewing all available options within its legal authority to uphold the trust of Clackamas County voters and address their concerns.”

Prior to her run for the county commission, Fireside ran for Lake Oswego City Council in 2020, ultimately losing out on a seat. She also served on county advisory boards related to mental health and compensation for elected officials.

In the county voter’s pamphlet she listed her occupation as a small business owner with an occupational background in project management.

County Commissioner Ben West, whose political ideology aligned more closely with Fireside’s predecessor Shull, has called for Fireside to resign amid the investigation. West shared these thoughts in multiple posts on the social media platform X between Tuesday and Wednesday.