Hillsboro man sentenced to community control, 30 days in jail in drug case

A Hillsboro man indicted on five drug-related charges earlier this year was sentenced to community control and ordered to serve 30 days in jail recently in Highland County Common Pleas Court.

Dwayne Devine Jr., 30, was indicted by a Highland County grand jury in June and charged with selling dangerous drugs, a fourth-degree felony; one count each of possessing dangerous drugs for sale, trafficking in marijuana and trafficking in drugs, all fifth-degree felonies; and possession of drugs, a first-degree misdemeanor. The indictment was initially made secret.

According to court records, Devine pleaded guilty in October to selling dangerous drugs and trafficking in drugs, with the other three charges dismissed.

For those charges, a bill of particulars alleged that on or about Nov. 8, 2022 in Hillsboro, Devine sold Gabapentin, marijuana and two THC cartridges to a confidential informant (CI) working with the Highland County Task Force. 

On the same date, it is alleged that Devine “provided the CI” with the phone number of another individual who could sell other drugs. The CI purchased buprenorphine from that individual at a different Hillsboro address, the bill of particulars alleged.  
 
During a sentencing hearing Dec. 14, Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss sentenced Devine to three years of community control. Devine was ordered to serve 30 days in the Highland County Jail, to successfully complete substance use disorder treatment, to obtain his GED and to seek employment, according to court records. 

The judge also ordered Devine to pay $85 to the Highland County Task Force, and $80 joint and several with the alleged co-defendant, in restitution.