A Hillsboro doctor has been arrested on an aggravated trafficking in drugs charge, according to Highland County Sheriff Donnie Barrera.

Dr. John C. Hodge, 33, of Jackson, was arrested Tuesday after an investigation by the Highland County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. 23 Major Crimes Task Force, Fairfield-Hocking Major Crimes Unit and the Hillsboro Police Department into information that he was selling prescriptions for narcotics, according a news release from Barrera.

The sheriff said that since the investigation is ongoing, he could not comment anymore specifically on exactly what Hodge was allegedly doing. But he did say that the illegal activity had apparently been going on for some time, that it was initially brought to the local law enforcement’s attention by the U.S. 23 Major Crimes Task Force, and that the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy was involved.

A search warrant was served at the doctor’s office in Hillsboro where cash, miscellaneous drugs, a firearm and drug paraphernalia were recovered, Barrera said.

The sheriff said Hodge worked out of the HealthSource of Ohio office, behind Walgreens, at 1108 Northview Drive, where he was arrested without incident.

Hodge was charged with aggravated trafficking in drugs, a second-degree felony.

Additional charges are pending as the investigation continues, Barrera said.

Hodge appeared Wednesday in Hillsboro Municipal Court where his bond was set at $50,000. A preliminary hearing was set for 9:30 a.m. July 14 in Hillsboro Municipal Court.

Barrera said Hodge was in the process of bonding out of jail Wednesday afternoon.

According to a Health Care for People website, Hodge is a family practice specialist in Hillsboro. The website says he graduated with honors from the Lake Erie College Of Osteopathic Medicine in 2010 and that he has more than six years of diverse experiences, especially in family practice.

Reach Jeff Gilliland at 937-402-2522 or on Twitter @13gillilandj.