{"id":2411473,"date":"2025-03-08T18:15:02","date_gmt":"2025-03-08T23:15:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/recently-elected-democrat-charged-with-8-counts-of-theft-accused-of-victimizing-the-elderly\/"},"modified":"2025-03-08T18:15:57","modified_gmt":"2025-03-08T23:15:57","slug":"recently-elected-democrat-charged-with-8-counts-of-theft-accused-of-victimizing-the-elderly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/recently-elected-democrat-charged-with-8-counts-of-theft-accused-of-victimizing-the-elderly\/","title":{"rendered":"Recently Elected Democrat Charged with 8 Counts of Theft, Accused of Victimizing the Elderly"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Frecently-elected-democrat-charged-with-8-counts-of-theft-accused-of-victimizing-the-elderly%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2411473&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Clackamas County Commissioner Melissa Fireside,\u200b a\u2064 democrat\u200d from Oregon, has been charged with\u200b eight counts of theft, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/report-biden-admin-plans-to-reopen-juvenile-detention-facility-dems-including-kamala-harris-once-accused-of-abuse\/\" title=\"Report: Biden Admin Plans To Reopen Juvenile Detention Facility Dems, Including Kamala Harris, Once Accused Of Abuse\">including allegations<\/a> of forgery\u200c and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/recall-gov-newsom-calls-grow-louder-calif-dems-join-in\/\" title=\"Recall Gov. Newsom calls grow louder, Calif. Dems join in\">identity theft<\/a>. She is accused of exploiting an 83-year-old man, Arthur\u2062 Wayne Petrone,\u2064 by accessing a computer network and forging his signature \u200bto obtain at least $74,000\u2064 while she was campaigning for office. \u200cFireside was arraigned and released under \u2062the condition that she \u200ddoes\u2062 not contact \u2063the victim. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield emphasized the moral obligation to protect seniors, stating that \u2062those in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/theres-really-only-one-way-to-save-our-union-and-bring-the-country-back-together-and-its-not-impeachment\/\" title=\"There\u2019s Really Only One Way to Save Our Union and Bring the Country Back Together and It\u2019s Not Impeachment\">public positions<\/a> must be\u2062 held accountable for any exploitation. The charges include <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/indicted-powerful-former-ohio-utilities-chairman-dead-suicide-suspected\/\" title=\"Former Ohio utilities chairman indicted found dead; suicide suspected\">aggravated theft<\/a>,\u2062 identity theft, computer crime, and forgery. Fireside&#8217;s alleged actions have led to\u2062 calls for her resignation, especially \u2063from Oregon State Rep. April Dobson, who indicated that she had previously lent Fireside\u200c money but later learned of potential illicit sources for repayment. The inquiry has been ongoing for several months,and the case \u2063raises serious ethical concerns \u200babout the conduct\u2063 of\u2062 elected officials.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Clackamas County Commissioner Melissa Fireside has been charged with eight counts of theft and was arraigned on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/tug-war-brewing-deep-blue-state-part-oregon-soon-go-idaho\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Oregon<\/a> Democrat is accused of taking &ldquo;financial advantage of an 83-year-old man while accessing a computer network,&rdquo; as well as forging his signature and that of Oregon Democratic State Rep. April Dobson, according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.doj.state.or.us\/media-home\/news-media-releases\/oregon-department-of-justice-secures-indictment-of-clackamas-county-commissioner\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">release<\/a> from the Oregon Department of Justice.<\/p>\n<p>Fireside was arraigned at the Clackamas County courthouse.<\/p>\n<p>She was released on the condition that she does not have contact with the elderly victim.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It does not matter who you are, which political party you&rsquo;re in or what position you hold,&rdquo; Oregon Democratic Attorney General Dan Rayfield said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We will aggressively prosecute those who victimize Oregon&rsquo;s seniors.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The Lake Oswego Police Department and the Criminal Justice Division of the Oregon Department of Justice have been investigating the incident for months.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Left-wing activist Melissa Fireside, a Clackamas Co. Commissioner-elect who virtue signals about social justice &amp; the vulnerable, is under investigation for elder abuse and fraud. Fireside is set to take office in January despite looming felony charges. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/XzzwVnHuzM\">https:\/\/t.co\/XzzwVnHuzM<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Ap9nb48mWa\">pic.twitter.com\/Ap9nb48mWa<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Ben West &#127482;&#127480; &#129413; &#127482;&#127474;&#129451;&#127794; (@BenforOregon) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BenforOregon\/status\/1861569774896996464?\">November 27, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The fraud allegedly occurred in September as Fireside was campaigning to unseat County Commissioner Mark Shull, a Republican, according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wweek.com\/news\/courts\/2025\/03\/05\/clackamas-county-commissioner-charged-with-forging-state-lawmakers-signature-while-defrauding-83-year-old-man\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">report<\/a> from Willamette Week.<\/p>\n<p>She allegedly defrauded Arthur Wayne Petrone of at least $74,000.<\/p>\n<p>The outlet noted that the exact nature of the alleged fraud is unclear.<\/p>\n<p>Fireside is charged with aggravated theft in the first degree, theft in the first degree, two counts of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/illegal-immigrant-stole-u-s-citizens-identity-voted-2016-2020-elections-law-enforcement\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">identity<\/a> theft, two counts of computer crime, and two counts of forgery in the first degree.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The sentence cannot be higher than ten years for the Aggravated Theft in the First-Degree charge or five years for each of the remaining charges,&rdquo; the Oregon Department of Justice added.<\/p>\n<p>A spokesperson for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/let-people-go-rural-oregon-residents-petition-secede-join-trump-backing-idaho\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Oregon<\/a> Department of Justice confirmed to the outlet that Petrone and Dobson are not related, and that a probable cause affidavit currently does not exist for the case.<\/p>\n<p>Dobson meanwhile said in remarks to the Week that Fireside had approached her for a loan.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Last summer, Melissa Fireside came to me as a friend looking for temporary relief for her personal business. My instinct was to support a single mother of a young child during a tough time,&rdquo; she said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I drew up a contract which explicitly stated she would repay the loan within one month, and she did so,&rdquo; Dobson continued.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;In November I was contacted by law enforcement who informed me there was an issue with the source of the money Melissa Fireside used to pay me back,&rdquo; the lawmaker continued. &ldquo;I did not hesitate to  all the information I had to help the detectives with their investigation.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Dobson called on Fireside to step down and said she has not had contact with the Clackamas <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/watch-oregon-lib-rages-guys-american-flag-cap-mocks-dead-mother-demands-call-sweetheart\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">County<\/a> official since learning about the accusations.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We have so much work ahead of us in Clackamas County, and our residents deserve leaders they can trust,&rdquo; Dobson added.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I believe Melissa Fireside&rsquo;s actions are unacceptable for an elected official and call on her to resign immediately.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Rayfield meanwhile said that &ldquo;when someone in a position of <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">public trust takes advantage<\/a> of our seniors, it is a betrayal on multiple levels.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> \t     \t\t\t\t\t\t     \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> \t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<style> \t\t\t \t\t\t.insticator-unit.type-commenting{margin: 0 10px 25px 10px}@media screen and (max-width:1060px){#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{margin: 0 auto 25px auto !important;}}#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{height: 280px !important; width: 336px !important} \t\t<\/style>\n<div class=\"insticator-unit type-commenting\">\n<div class=\"insticator-ads\"> \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t<script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> \t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"insticator-ads additional\"> \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t<script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> \t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Clackamas County Commissioner Melissa Fireside has been charged with eight counts of theft and was arraigned on Wednesday. The Oregon Democrat allegedly exploited an 83-year-old man by accessing a computer network, forging his signature, and that of Oregon Democratic State Rep. April Dobson, as stated in a release from the Oregon Department of Justice. Fireside appeared in court at the Clackamas County courthouse and was released under the condition that she does not contact the elderly victim. Oregon Democratic Attorney General Dan Rayfield emphasized that anyone who takes advantage of seniors will be prosecuted vigorously, regardless of their political affiliation or position. The Lake Oswego Police Department and the Criminal Justice Division have been investigating this matter for several months.<\/p>\n<p>Fireside, who is set to take office in January despite facing felony charges, is accused of committing fraud while campaigning against Republican County Commissioner Mark Shull last September. She allegedly defrauded Arthur Wayne Petrone out of at least $74,000; however, details about how this fraud occurred remain unclear.<\/p>\n<p>The charges against her include aggravated theft in the first degree, first-degree theft, two counts each of identity theft and computer crime, as well as two counts of first-degree forgery. According to the Oregon Department of Justice, sentences can reach up to ten years for aggravated theft or five years for each remaining charge.<\/p>\n<p>A spokesperson confirmed that Petrone and Dobson are not related; currently there is no probable cause affidavit available for this case. Dobson mentioned that Fireside had approached her for a loan last summer during a difficult time as a single mother. Although she initially supported her friend with a contract stipulating repayment within one month\u2014which was fulfilled\u2014Dobson later learned from law enforcement about issues regarding how Fireside repaid her.<\/p>\n<p>Dobson has called on Fireside to resign immediately due to these allegations: \u201cOur residents deserve leaders they can trust,\u201d she stated. Rayfield added that exploiting seniors represents a significant betrayal by someone in public office<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2411474,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Picture-70.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[50403,4912,51800,51799],"class_list":["post-2411473","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-crime-2","tag-democrat","tag-elderly-victims","tag-theft-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Picture-70.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2411473","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2411473"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2411473\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2411477,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2411473\/revisions\/2411477"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2411474"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2411473"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2411473"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2411473"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}