Hillsboro man sentenced to community control in drug trafficking case

A Hillsboro man was sentenced to community control Wednesday after pleading guilty to a drug trafficking charge in connection with a Highland County Task Force investigation.

As previously reported, Terry Harlow, 46, of Hillsboro was indicted by a Highland County grand jury in April and charged with trafficking in drugs, a fifth-degree felony; and possession of drugs, a first-degree misdemeanor. He was one of seven individuals arrested as part of a Task Force roundup following the then-secret indictment.

Harlow pleaded guilty to the trafficking charge in May, with the possession charge dismissed, according to court records.

For that charge, the indictment alleged that on or about Oct. 7, Harlow “did knowingly sell or offer to sell” buprenorphine (aka Suboxone).

During his sentencing hearing July 1, it was noted that Harlow previously completed the New Way to Recovery Drug Court Docket. Harlow graduated from the local drug court in May 2025. 

Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss said he was “surprised to see [Harlow] back here.

“You had done very well in drug court and graduated, but it’s just another example of the disease and the fact that the monkey’s never off your back,” Coss said. “You have to always be vigilant and work real hard at staying focused. It looks to me like you just sold a small amount, and basically, because you were using again, so that’s regrettable.”

Coss sentenced Harlow to three years of community control and ordered Harlow to successfully complete substance use disorder treatment and recommended aftercare. Harlow was also ordered to pay $30 in restitution to the Highland County Task Force.